A deep longing for unity

Herald Malaysia

3 days ago

Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr Sixtus Pitah OFM May 30, 2025
7th Sunday of Easter (C)
Readings: Acts of the Apostle 7:55-60;
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20;
Gospel: John 17:20-26In today's readings, we hear a deep longing for unity — unity with God, unity with one another, and unity in truth and love. It's a unity that isn't abstract or just a nice spiritual idea. It's a unity born through real effort, real pain, and real faith — and it's what Jesus prays for before facing the Cross. St Stephen, in the First Reading, is being stoned to death. And yet, in the middle of that violence and hate, he gazes into heaven and sees Jesus. What does he do? He doesn't curse his killers. He doesn't beg for his life. Instead, he prays to be united with Jesus and even forgives those attacking him. That kind of faith, that kind of unity with Christ, is not soft or easy. It's costly. But it brings peace, not just to Stephen, but also — eventually — to a man named Saul, who stood there approving his death. Saul, who would become Paul, because of the witness of that unity. In the Gospel, Jesus prays for all of us — not just for His disciples at the Last Supper but for you and me today in our world, in our parishes, our BECs, our families. He says, "That they may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You." Jesus wants our unity to reflect the same deep relationship of love within the Trinity — a unity rooted in self-giving, in listening, in mercy. But we live in a time where unity can be hard to be attained. There's just a lot of noise. We are constantly bombarded with messages online and in real life that divide: Us versus them. Right versus wrong. My truth versus your truth. And in this year's 59th World Communications Day, Pope Francis speaks right into this: he invites us to rediscover 'the language of the heart' — a way of communicating that brings people together instead of pushing them apart. He quotes St Paul: 'Speaking the truth in love' (Eph 4:15). That's not just about being nice. It's about learning how to speak with truth and tenderness. And more importantly, how to listen — to listen deeply, patiently, humbly. Pope Francis reminds us that 'listening is the first act of communication.' In our homes, in our WhatsApp groups, on Facebook, at the Mamak's shop or Kopitiam — are we listening? Or just reacting? In Malaysia, where we live side by side with people of many races, cultures, and beliefs, unity is not an ideal. It's a necessity. And as Christians, we are called to be a sign of that unity — not by force or pretending we are all the same, but by loving sincerely, communicating respectfully, and living with open hearts.
The Pope also warns us about artificial intelligence — not in fear, but with caution. He reminds us that while technology can help us communicate faster, it cannot replace the warmth of human connection. He says: 'Machines can imitate us, but they cannot feel with us.' That's such an important reminder — especially for young people glued to screens. Real unity requires real people. Real encounters. Real hearts.
As we approach Pentecost next week, we remember how the Holy Spirit united people who spoke different languages. Not by making them the same, but by helping them understand one another. That's the kind of unity we are invited into. Not uniformity, but harmony. So today, let's take Jesus' prayer seriously. Let's be people who don't just consume messages but communicate life. Let's speak with our hearts, forgive like Stephen, listen like Jesus, and build unity wherever we are — in our families, our parish, our communities, and even online. And maybe, like the final words of Revelation say, our hearts too can cry out: 'Come, Lord Jesus!' — not because the world is perfect, but because we long for the unity He brings. 'Unity begins with one open heart willing to love beyond comfort.' May that heart be ours today.
Friar Sixtus Peter, OFM is the Vice Chairman of the Episcopal Regional Commission for Social Communications (ERCSC) Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB)