And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(John 10:16)
From the 18th to the 25th of January, we celebrate a week of prayer for the unity of the Christian churches. As from the beginning, those who came to Jesus, belonged to one Church, with the Pope as their head. However, over time, some churches separated and no longer remained within the Catholic faith.
It is Jesus’ own desire that all Christians be united. At the Last Supper, he prayed for there to be “one fold and one shepherd”. This is why this week is referred to as the ‘Ecumenical Week‘, a term derived from Greek, meaning the whole inhabited world. It is a week dedicated to reflecting on the importance of fostering unity among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians; all of whom share belief in God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.
We regard all Christians as brothers and sisters in the Lord because, beyond our shared acknowledgment of Jesus as our brother, there are many elements that unite us. These include our shared faith, the celebration of the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and above all, love, which should bring us closer together as one family.
Let us pray with St George Preca:
Lord God the Father, look upon the vineyard that your dear Son has redeemed with His blood, and bless it with the dew of your grace, so that it may grow in the number of the faithful, in the love of good instruction, and in true peace and charity. Confident of Your mercy, we offer You the suffering of Your Son, Christ Jesus, who has merited your grace for all humanity. Amen.
