Editor’s note: This is the second place winner for the Friars Student Writing Award contest sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor in Toronto and The Catholic Register.

Jesus chose not one, but 12 Apostles to spread the message of His love. He believed that unified, the Apostles could better carry out the work of spreading God’s love since they had the support of their fellow apostolic brothers. Although the Christian Church today has been factionalized into various denominations, we are called to share in the brotherhood through the empowerment we receive as apostles spreading God’s teachings.

Teaching is one of those occupations no one is barred from. Everyone has the power to influence others through their teachings.

As apostles of God, we are to teach the universal message that God tells all Christians: That there is no commandment greater than to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:38).  

In order to accomplish this, we need to aspire to lives that will be the epitome of God’s love to everyone we come in contact with. What better way to do so than to unite ourselves as Christians in our evangelistic teaching of God’s word.

This is because if our actions towards others reflect God’s love, then others can learn by observing our relationship with fellow Christians. What better way to teach than to practise what you preach?

On the matter of preaching God’s word, we can recount the lives of the early Christians who faced persecution for preaching the Word of God. They bravely faced death instead of renouncing their faith.

There was a driving force behind this courage; a reason for their unwavering faith.

It was the knowledge that the cause for which they were being persecuted was a worthy one; the knowledge that they were laying the groundwork for other Christians to follow; the knowledge that their sacrifices for the Church would serve to draw those strong in the faith even closer together; the knowledge that they had the backing of their fellow Christians ready to continue where they left off.

Having this kind of trust in anyone is profoundly encouraging, especially at times such as these with news of persecutions among our fellow Christians like those in Pakistan, Somalia, Egypt, Vietnam and everywhere a Christian is criticized for their faith.

Such trust can only be forged on deep bonds of brotherhood and one good way to forge bonds is by praying together.  

Jesus prayed and taught His disciples to do so too because He understood the strength provided by solidarity in prayer. Through prayer, God yearns for us to break down all barriers, including those of denomination, that restrict us from being one not just with Him but also with our fellow Christians. His son, Jesus, died to unify Christians with the assurance that we will have eternal redemption. He died not for one denomination, “but to gather all children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52).

And so the Communion (sharing of the bread) is a resonating theme among all Christian denominations and further proof of the similarities Christians have in common.

Let us, therefore, surge on in forging and maintaining our ties of Christian fellowship among all denominations through our prayers. Let our actions reflect the true teachings of God’s unconditional love of unity and equality.

Most importantly, “I plead with you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). For when all is stripped away from us, we are left with nothing but our faith.

And since we all share the same faith, are we then not fundamentally the same?

(Chigbo, 16, is a Grade 12 student at St. Francis Xavier Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont.)