In his catechesis at the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reminds Christians that unity is only achieved with the grace of God, and not by our own willpower.
By Devin Watkins
As Christians around the world observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis reflects on Jesus’ invitation to overcome discord and sow reconciliation.
Speaking on the catechesis part of his weekly General Audience, the Pope reminded everyone that Jesus did not order His disciples to unite, but rather prayed that they would be.
This, said the Pope, “means that we cannot achieve unity with our own strength. Unity is, above all, a gift, a grace to be requested through prayer ”.
Internal conflict
As the apostle Paul observed, each of us experiences a painful conflict within ourselves, in which we desire good, but are inclined to evil.
Our internal conflict, Pope Francis said, is a reminder that the real solution comes “asking God for peace, reconciliation and unity”.
He said that Jesus prayed for his own, “that all may be one” (John 17:21).
“Our prayer for unity,” he added, “is therefore a humble but confident participation in the Lord’s prayer.”
External difficulties
Pope Francis then asked all of us to reflect on the frequency with which we pray for Christian unity.
“During this time of serious difficulties, this prayer is even more necessary for unity to prevail over conflicts.”
Christians, he said, must follow the path of visible unity, because the world will only believe in Christ if we bear witness to “the love that unites us”.
Fighting for unity
“Praying means fighting for unity,” said the Pope. This means fighting the discord and division that the devil seeks to sow, magnifying the defects and errors of others in our eyes.
God, however, offers another way. “He takes us as we are, different, sinners, and pushes us towards unity.”
Thus, Pope Francis invited everyone to sow unity in our homes and workplaces with the tools that God gave us: “prayer and love”.
In the love of Christ
Finally, Pope Francis reflected on the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year: “Remain in my love and you will bear much fruit”.
“The 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”, he said.
In seeking unity, we discover that Christians of other faiths are gifts from God.
“Let us begin to pray for them and, when possible, with them”, concluded Pope Francis. “Thus, we will learn to love and appreciate them.”