Let Love Lead
A Plea for Unity in the Body of Christ
I have been reading Facebook comments on different groups, from my brothers and sisters—both Catholic and non-Catholic pages—and I often walk away feeling assaulted, belittled, unloved, and looked down upon. Protestants schooling Catholics on salvation. Hating on Mother Mary. Catholics defending. Accusations. Dismissals. Arrogance on all sides. It's exhausting.
I spent over 30 years in various Protestant traditions after being raised a cradle Catholic. I’ve now been back in the Catholic Church for about seven years. So, when I say this, I say it from deep personal experience:
If you call God your Father, you are my brother or sister.
And not just fellow believers—I see all people as my relations, because God is the Creator of all. Whether or not people acknowledge Him, He is still their Lord. They may ignore or even mock Him, but He still loves them—and longs for them to love Him back.
But with all this division and derision that I see, I have to ask you:
Does your Bible still include John 17:20–24? I know that all bibles do not contain all the information, but is this in your bible?
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.Who prayed this? Jesus.
What did He ask for? Unity—among all who would ever believe through the Apostles’ message.
Why? So that the world would believe that the Father sent the Son, and that He loves them.
So I ask you again:
Does the world believe?
And if not—what might be hindering their belief?
I don’t claim to know all the mysteries of God. But I know this much:
Jesus deeply valued unity, community, and leadership.
And while scripture is God-breathed and foundational—it’s not exhaustive. As John 21:25 says:
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
So, Sola Scriptura? Apparently, John, the beloved disciple himself, hints that more was said and done than was written down. We don’t have the full transcript. We have the essentials—but not the totality.
In John 13, Jesus washes feet, feeds the disciples, and commands them to love one another. Then He says, “Do this in remembrance of Me,” referring to the Eucharist—His body and blood, His real presence (see John 6:55). One cup. One loaf. Unity.
It’s stunning when you think about it.
I’m just trying to find common ground. Can we agree that:
Jesus deeply desired unity among those He died for?
He wanted His legacy to be lived out in community?
He hand-picked leaders, and Peter’s confession was affirmed as from the Father?
And let’s be honest: the Bible was written decades after His resurrection. The Church was already alive—growing, developing, and finding its way, under the guidance of the Spirit, as it still is, today.
Here’s one last quote from Jesus, short but relevant:
“Stop grumbling among yourselves.” (John 6:43)
We can do that.
We must do that.
Instead of attacking and correcting each other with pride and certainty, could we start with love? Could we stay open to the mystery of how heaven operates? Could we let God build His Church into the unity Christ asked for 2,000 years ago?
He told us what matters most:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength… and love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, I say:
Seek Him. Love Him. Experience Him. Get to know Him.---Through whatever tradition reveals more of Him to you; and, be open to new experiences of Him. Because…
when we’ve been there 10,000 years, we’ll still only be scratching the surface of who He is!
Please—
Stop grumbling among yourselves.
Let love lead.
I hope we can agree on this. And if you do, please comment and share this—again and again.
Let’s stop grieving Jesus…
and give Him the unity He longs for.
The unity He prayed for.
The unity He died for.
And please—
Can we stop villainizing each other?
Can we stop dividing into camps where we assume everyone else is blind, deceived, or dangerous?
There is more than one setting in which God can be encountered.
More than one expression of reverent worship.
More than one way the Spirit moves.
Live and let live. Worship and let worship.
Taste and see… even if it’s different than what you’re used to, for the Lord. Is. Good!
None of us have the full picture yet—not even Pope Leo, whom I have great love and respect for! But, none of us are the gatekeeper to God's throne for our brethren and it is presumptious to speak for God!
Let’s trade suspicion for curiosity, judgment for kindness, and pride for peace.
I will be praying in love for you, please pray for me too! And my prayers for you may be addressed to Mary to intercede for you- don’t be offended. You are saved by the blood of Christ, and after all, it is her blood that flows through His Veins. United in Christ!
Hungry for more?
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