It is a good and propitious occasion for us to become aware that there is more that unites us than what separates us, as believers and followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The words of Jesus, recorded in the Gospel of St. John and integrated into the so-called "Priestly Prayer" urge us to pray for unity: "Father, I pray for them, that they may be one, even as you and I are one, so that the world may believe" (John 17:21). This prayer of the Lord in Gethsemane on the eve of his sacrifice has become a need felt by all.
The ecumenical orientation places a marked emphasis on prayer for the unity of the churches, seeking a real path towards the fullness of unity that brings hearts together in a common intention of the search for unity.
Shared prayer allows us to feel already united in the Lord of all, even if it is not yet possible to proclaim full belonging to a united ecclesial community.
Prayer is the soul of a legitimate and real ecumenical movement.
Praying is our task... and more than a human fulfillment, unity is a divine gift.
If we believe, let us not tire of praying!
Fr. Claudio
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