Others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. (Jn 7:41-43)
Peace. Love. Joy. Mercy. Forgiveness. Unity.
These are all hallmarks of Christianity.
Too bad they are not hallmarks of Christians!
It is a sad reality that believers can be some of the cruelest people. We say that we believe but we live, quite often, a lie as we engage in all sorts of activities that go against our Lord.
One of Jesus’ desires, echoed in His last exhortation to His people, was that the community live as one, as He and His Father were one. That unity was something that Jesus not only preached, He also lived it.
People whom the disciples would consider outsiders were welcomed by Jesus and made to feel as if they belonged. They did belong. Jesus told us that we were all brothers and sisters.
Why, then, do so many people live in disunity?
If we are Christians, if we believe that Jesus guides us, if we believe that we are examples for the world, we must be mirrors of Jesus. He calls us to live as one, as He and His Father are one.
Let us try to do so today.
FAITH ACTION: If any divisions have occurred among your family or friends because of your living the faith, do all that you can to mend the division.