Undoubtedly, any group must exert effort to maintain unity, as we see in the first reading from Acts that despite the joys of the infant Church, there were also challenges to bring together Jews and Gentiles. Yet they relied on the Holy Spirit, the continued presence of God and the Risen Christ with the Church, to find a solution.
Ultimately, the Church is a sign of what is to come, the heavenly Jerusalem that shows the perfection of God's character. The vision from Revelation describes how the city has perfect dimensions, and God is fully present, so there is no need for a Temple or the heavenly bodies of the Sun or Moon.
As we strive toward the full realization of this vision, we rejoice that Christ remains with us through the Holy Spirit. At the Last Supper, from which today's Gospel reading is taken, He declares that He gives us peace unlike what the world offers, because we have a sure grounding in our relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us of what Jesus Christ says so that these words come alive in us, and we see how everything is real as He said and so believe.
We furthermore rejoice today that Pope Leo XIV takes possession of the Cathedra of Rome in his role as Bishop of Rome. It is a sign of the unity that God desires for our Church, that we may reflect the vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem and strive with the Holy Spirit toward the fullness of that reality.
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