Recently, I spoke with someone whose family lives in many different expressions of faith.
Her mother was raised Catholic, later became Baptist.
Her siblings remained Catholic.
In my own family too—
aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, even siblings—
Diversity in worship.
Faith that is true.
There is no need for accusations, no need for challenges.
But not all Christians live this way.
Too often, disunity marks the Body of Christ.
And disunity is not only painful.
It is unfaithful.
Divisions rooted in prejudice.
Divisions rooted in suspicion.
Divisions rooted in scorn.
These are weapons of the enemy.
Yet Christ came for all.
He came to gather, not scatter.
He came to bring peace, not confusion.
Still, in our modern world,
Communities divide.
The scattered stay scattered.
This is not God’s truth.
It is an anomaly.
It is a wound.
Division is not simply unfortunate.
It is sinful.
But God’s word has not changed.
Christ’s will has not softened.
He prayed that we may all be one,
as He and the Father are one.
When the Church confesses “one” but lives as many,
our witness falters.
Our voice breaks.
Our Creed is compromised.
Saint Paul declares:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
A divided Church speaks with a divided voice.
But hear the promise:
The scattered shall be gathered.
From every land.
They shall dwell secure in their home.
And when the angel spoke to Joseph, he said: Do not be afraid.
For the child conceived is of the Spirit.
He will save His people from their sins.
And they shall call Him Emmanuel—God with us.
God with us.
God gathering us.
God healing our division.
So let us not be content with disunity.
Let us pray.
Let us repent.
Let us labor.
For Christ came to gather the scattered.
Christ came to make us one.
Christ came to bring peace.
And the scattered shall be gathered.
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