杏MAP导航 at Audience: Christian unity achieved only through God鈥檚 grace
By Devin Watkins
As Christians around the world observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflects on Jesus鈥� invitation to overcome discord and sow reconciliation.
Speaking in the catechesis portion of his weekly General Audience, the 杏MAP导航 reminded everyone that Jesus did not command His disciples to be united, but rather prayed that they might be.
This, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渕eans that we are not able to achieve unity with our own strength. Unity is above all a gift, a grace to be requested through prayer.鈥�
Internal conflict
As the Apostle Paul observed, each of us experiences a painful conflict within ourselves, in which we desire the good but find ourselves inclined toward evil.
Our internal conflict, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, is a reminder that the true solution comes 鈥渂y asking God for peace, reconciliation, and unity.鈥�
He said Jesus prayed for His own, 鈥渢hat they may all be one鈥� (Jn 17:21).
鈥淥ur prayer for unity,鈥� he added, 鈥渋s thus a humble but trusting participation in the Lord鈥檚 prayer.鈥�
External hardship
杏MAP导航 Francis then asked us all to reflect on how often we pray for Christian unity.
鈥淒uring this time of serious hardship, this prayer is even more necessary so that unity might prevail over conflicts.鈥�
Christians, he said, need to pursue the path of visible unity, because the world will only believe in Christ if we bear witness 鈥渢o the love that unites us鈥�.
Fighting for unity
鈥淭o pray means to fight for unity,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. This means fighting against the discord and division which the devil seeks to sow by magnifying the defects and mistakes of others in our eyes.
God, however, offers another path. 鈥淗e takes us as we are, different, sinners, and nudges us towards unity.鈥�
So, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited everyone to sow unity in our homes and workplaces with the tools God has given us: 鈥減rayer and love.鈥�
In Christ鈥檚 love
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the theme of this year鈥檚 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 鈥淎bide in my love and you shall bear much fruit.鈥�
鈥淭he root of communion and love is Christ who makes us overcome our prejudices to see in others a brother or sister to be loved always,鈥� he said.
By seeking unity, we find that Christians of other confessions are gifts from God.
鈥淟et us begin to pray for them and, when possible, with them,鈥� concluded 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淲e will thus learn to love and appreciate them.鈥�
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