In his catechesis at the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reminds Christians that unity can only be achieved through the grace of God, and not through our own will.
By Devin Watkins
As Christians around the world observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis reflects on Jesus’ invitation to overcome disagreement and create reconciliation.
Speaking in the catechesis portion of his weekly General Audience, the Pope reminded everyone that Jesus did not command His disciples to be united, but rather prayed that they would be.
This, said the Pope, “means that we are unable to achieve unity with our own strength. Unity is above all a gift, a grace to be asked for through prayer. “
Internal conflict
As the Apostle Paul noted, each of us experiences a painful conflict within ourselves, in which we desire good but are prone to evil.
Our internal conflict, Pope Francis said, reminds us that the real solution comes “by asking God for peace, reconciliation and unity.”
He said that Jesus prayed for His own, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).
“Our prayer for unity,” he added, “is thus a humble but trusting participation in the prayer of the Lord.”
External hardships
Pope Francis then asked us all to think about how often we pray for Christian unity.
“In this time of severe hardship, this prayer is even more needed so that unity can prevail over conflict.”
Christians, he said, must follow the path of visible unity because the world will believe in Christ only if we testify “of the love that unites us.”
Fight for unity
“Praying means fighting for unity,” said the Pope. This means fighting against the divisions and divisions that the devil tries to sow by magnifying the flaws and faults of others in our eyes.
However, God offers a different path. “He takes us as we are, different, sinners, and pushes us toward unity.”
So Pope Francis invited everyone to sow unity in our homes and workplaces with the tools God has given us: “prayer and love.”
In the love of Christ
Finally, Pope Francis reflected on the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: “Remain in my love and you will bear much fruit.”
“The root of fellowship and love is Christ who allows us to overcome our prejudices to see in others a brother or sister who will always be loved,” he said.
By seeking unity, we discover that Christians of other professions are a gift from God.
“Let’s start praying for them, and, if possible, with them,” Pope Francis concluded. “So we will learn to love and appreciate them.”