Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We can stay united in solidarity if we are constantly reminded of this and practise our unity among ourselves and with Jesus as our vine.

The first believers disputed among themselves regarding the Jewish practice of circumcision. Should non-Jews, who become believers of the Way of Jesus, practise some Jewish laws? This kind of disagreement led to disputes and, thus, disunity. At least they had the common sense to refer the issue to the higher authority of the Apostles in Jerusalem.

Even if the central authority should fail, we still have Jesus as the living vine that unites us. Therefore, we should never forget that our solidarity is in the person of Jesus Christ, Who is the true vine, not in any human being; at the same time, we remind ourselves constantly that we are the branches attached to Him.

Though we are many and unique in different ways, we can be united because the cause of our unity is Jesus. If we concentrate on our differences and continue to argue about these divergences, we will pull away and separate ourselves from each other, which is not the vision of Jesus.