“We are called children of God, and so we are!” (1 Jn 3:1).
To be the children of God is a great predilection, and all are called to this dignity. Thus, the Father unites us in Himself. He is the true foundation of the unity of humanity; a unity which we seek in so many different ways, but which we can never attain unless it is grounded in God. Unity among all humanity is rooted in God Himself and can only become a reality to the extent that we truly live as His children. The Prophet Malachi tells us:
“Is there not one Father of us all? Did not one God create us?” (Mal 2:10).
The path to unity has been traced out for us by the Heavenly Father, who sent His Son to redeem us, to restore the lost paradisiacal unity, both of man with God and with one another.
If Jesus assures us that He Himself is the way and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6), then this invitation to return to the Father’s house is addressed to all lost children. They have only to set out and meet their Father who is waiting for them. He has never abandoned them; rather, moved by His love, He has gone out to meet them and rescued them from the estrangement of God, even at the price of the death of His only-begotten Son, because He is our Father.
If we suffer under the scourge of wars and discord, there is one main reason: we do not live according to God’s precepts, or at least not enough. We can see this clearly in the history of the people of Israel, but it is the same for all nations.
Therefore, it is also clear which is, conversely, the way to true peace and unity among peoples. If we live in conformity with our Father and accept His grace, we become capable of loving and living in truth. And it is in Him – in the Father – that we find true unity. It is as simple as that, even though we are often so far from achieving it.