During his homily at Casa Santa Marta on Thursday, the Pope reflected on the unity of the Church. He stressed that it is critical for Christians to remain united and always avoid gossip and labels, two things that only cause division.
POPE FRANCIS
'We must be one, just one being, as Jesus and the Father are one. This is precisely the challenge for all of us Christians: to not give way to division among us; to not let the spirit of division, the father of lies, come between us. Continuously seek unity. Everyone is different in his own way, but we must try to live in unity. Has Jesus forgiven you? He forgives everyone. Jesus prays that we are one, one being. And the Church has great need of this prayer of unity.â?
The Pope joked that the Church is not held together by 'glue.â? More seriously, he said that it remains united through God's grace.
EXTRACT FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'Maybe, we do not pay enough attention to these words: Jesus prayed for me! This is really a source of confidence: He prays for me; He prayed for me ... I imagine â?¦a figure â?¦as Jesus is before the Father in Heaven. It is so: He prays for us; He prays for me. And what does the Father see? The wounds, the cost. The price He paid for us. Jesus prays for me with His wounds, with His wounded heart and He will continue to do so.â?
'We must be one, just one being, as Jesus and the Father are one. This is precisely the challenge for all of us Christians: to not give way to division among us; to not let the spirit of division, the father of lies, come between us. Continuously seek unity. Everyone is different in his own way, but we must try to live in unity. Has Jesus forgiven you? He forgives everyone. Jesus prays that we are one, one being. And the Church has great need of this prayer of unity.â?
'Another bit of advice that Jesus gave in these days before He takes His leave is to remain in Him: 'Abide in me.' And He asks for this grace, that we all remain in Him. And here He shows us why; He clearly says: 'Father, I want those whom you have given me, that they too may be with me where I am.' That is, that they remain there, with me. Remaining in Jesus, in this world, in the end [means] remaining with Him 'so that they may see my glory.'â?
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