Every year we spend one week from 18 to 25 January to pray for the unity of the Christians. In local, national and international level we organise prayer services and other programs to foster ecumenism. For many Christians ecumenism is a necessity. Some ignore it. Others doubt the relevance of being Christian without having a practising unity. Some others appeal for unity. Some consider it as the responsibility of the leaders. Some others practice unity in their own way without thinking about the views of the church leaders.
The theme of the prayer week for ecumenism this year is: „Do you believe this“? This question is a question of Jesus to Martha? (Jn 11:26). The Nicene Creed is emphasised this year’s prayer for Christian unity because we celebrate this year 1700 year of the Nicene Creed. As we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, the worship service has at its heart, the Nicene Creed. Reflecting this, the scripture readings for this year focus on belief.
We are invited to reflect on the story of Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus as narrated in John 11:17-27. Each is called to sit with Jesus’ provocative question to Martha: “Do you believe this?”
Difference in thinking and believing disturb many. Difference in thinking and acting take place because human have freedom. If the human did not have freedom and ability to think or to express opinion there would not have been differences, conflicts and division. In that case human would be like machines. But aber Gott gave the power to think and a reason to evaluate; people started to think and act; there originates differences.
We experience in the history of humanity that similarly thinking humans get together and try to establish in every area. They form groups and circles whether it be in the name of faith in God or dye to some ideology. We could recognise these differences as unity in diversity. But many are not ready to recognise unity in diversity. They dream of a utopian idea of unity in which the God-given freedom to think and act are taken away.
In such conflicts hate and war took place. The thirty years war in Germany between Catholics and Protestants after reformation is a typical example of disaster out the unwillingness to recognise the freedom of thinking and the beauty of diversity. Today also we experience problems due to difference in thinking, experience and doing. Conflicts, terror, violence and war in the name of religion in any form can not be accepted. It is a sin that should be avoided.
The texts of today’s Gospel with Jesus’ sermon in his hometown of Nazareth illustrate Jesus’ message: Jesus proclaimed good news for the poor; release for the prisoners, sight for the blind and freedom for the oppressed. Jesus not only proclaimed this good news, but he practiced what he preached, sometimes even through miraculous works.
Whether Catholic or non-Catholic, all Christians are called to perceive, proclaim and implement this message of the Gospel. Unity among Christians should be lived and practiced primarily in the commonality of the message that they believe and proclaim and in the common attempt to spread and implement this message.
Today, this message of Jesus is understood as the social responsibility and moral duty of every person and therefore we can recognize Jesus as a guide for every person, every society and for peaceful coexistence.
The poor, the sick, the prisoners, the blind and the broken exist today in every continent of the world. Today’s unfair power politics for property, power and money have increased the number of these groups. Church and politics have the common task of helping to alleviate this disease in society. In the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we can not only pray for the unity and for preservation and implementation of Christ’s message, but also, within our ability, do and experience something that gives good news to the poor, that the prisoners release in various ways through our efforts, gives the blind the light of faith to the truth and gives new courage to the brokenhearted.
When we believe in Christ and proclaim his message, we agree on essential things and we can recognize each other’s diversity of experience and practice without having to strive for uniformity.
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS