Christian unity

This week is the week of Christian Unity (January 18-25). Falling between the feasts of the Conversion of St Paul (January 18) and the Confession of Peter (January 25), each year at this time Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). 

This comes from the World Council of Churches:

The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for 2026 comes from Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4). In a world with diverse and often divided traditions and expressions of Christian faith, Ephesians 4:4 reminds us that all believers are part of the “one body” of Christ. "Let us embrace this divine calling to unity, not as an abstract ideal but as a vital expression of our faith,” invites the theme of this year. “By living in unity, we not only witness to the love and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also embody the essence of His teachings." In many corners of our world, hope is fast fading in the face of unprecedented suffering...It is in such times that our collective prayers for Christian unity can serve as a beacon of hope to many. When Christians are united in prayer, we also acknowledge the oneness in our calling to bear witness to the Gospel of Christ.

May we hold our Christian brothers and sisters around the world in our prayers, and seek for what grounds us in living out the love and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.