Many people wonder why the Church places such importance on unity. Isn’t diversity of belief and practice a natural part of being human? It’s true that the Church embraces many peoples, cultures, and traditions. Yet beneath all this variety lies something deeper—a communion born from one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Unity isn’t a practical convenience; it is the very heartbeat of the Church.
When Jesus prayed before His Passion, He turned to the Father and said, “That they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You” (John 17:21). This was not just a wish—it was His desire for the Church’s very being. The unity of believers reflects the inner life of God Himself: the perfect communion of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To be the Body of Christ means to live in that same communion, where every member is joined to the Head and to one another.
The Church’s unity is also a sign to the world. When Christians love each other, forgive each other, and walk together despite differences, the world catches a glimpse of divine love made visible. Division, on the other hand, wounds this witness and obscures the beauty of Christ’s presence in His people. This is why the Church works tirelessly for reconciliation, both within her own body and among all who call on the name of Christ.
In our daily lives, this unity calls us to humility, patience, and charity. We may not agree on everything, but we are called to listen, to pray, and to love one another as members of one family in Christ. Unity is not uniformity—it is harmony in love, rooted in the same faith and nourished by the same Eucharist.
May we learn to see the face of Christ in each other, and to build the kind of unity that reveals His peace to the world. For when the Church is truly one, she becomes the living sign of God’s unending love.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
