Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 / Luke 11:1-4
Unity is indeed a very powerful sign. In the secular sense, unity is a sign of solidarity and brotherhood.
When the Church stands united as one, it is not just a sign of solidarity and brotherhood; it is also a sign of God's presence that unites all in one heart and mind.
Furthermore, the Church is to be a sign of unity, uniting people with God through worship, through charity and proclaiming the Good News of God's saving love for all people.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul understood the importance of unity especially in the proclamation of the Good News.
Hence he took the effort to meet up with the elders of the Church, people like Peter, James and John, and he also brought along Barnabas and Titus so that all would have a common understanding and solidarity in the work of proclaiming the Good News.
All seemed well and good and in harmony until Peter did something which Paul thought was wrong. Peter had been eating with pagans but he stopped and kept away from them for fear of those Jewish Christians who would criticize him for eating with the uncircumcised.
Needless to say, there was a confrontation between Paul and Peter. It would seemed that the unity that was so forged with so much effort was breaking up.
Yet the issue would be resolved and unity would be restored. But that would not mean that the unity would not face any more challenges again.
There would always be challenges to the unity of the Church because the powers of evil are out to break up the Church and to scatter the believers.
But as we reflect and pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, the very first two words "Our Father" would would tell us that we must be united with each other because we believe that God is our Father and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Unity can be achieved with forgiveness. But without forgiving each other, we would be torn apart and scattered. So let us forgive each other, just as God has forgiven us.