Dear conqueror in Christ:
I praise the Lord for the privilege of calling on you to pray and work for unity. The very first thing to realize is that you are not a Lone Ranger on planet earth. Therefore you need to reach out to your neighbors in order to make this life manageable and meaningful. Unity is the state of being joined as a whole, of togetherness, of being of the same mind. Its importance is highlighted in the the old adage “United we stand, divided we fall,.” Jesus, our role model, teaches us the path to unity in his High Priestly Prayer. He prayed that his disciples “may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11). He prayed that all believers “may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:23). Let’s consider the steps Jesus recommended to achieve unity.
The first step aims to abide by the model offered us by divinity itself. Jesus emphasized that believers must see his unity with the Father. The apostle Paul invites us to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). Jesus made it clear that unity stems from love: “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them” (John 17:26). Love is the glue that binds us together. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). Finally our unity with one another depends on our union with Christ just as he said “that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26). Commit yourself to a life of unity and peace in harmony with God’s word.
Excelsior
Bishop Leon