Print Issue: January 9, 2003
Christian Unity: Not An Appendix
By Father John Kieran, Commentary
Sadly, inter-religious strife continues even as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.
The Christmas Day bombing at a Christian church in Daska, Pakistan, left three dead and dozens injured. In other places like Northern Ireland and in the Philippines, worshipers were harassed and threatened. Those who worshiped in Bethlehem did so under the surveillance of tanks.
The deepening tension between Muslims and Christians is well known and often spoken about. The irony is both religions claim that their God is a God of peace! Leaders, both civil and religious, have called for a better understanding of the major religions so as to ease tensions and promote peaceful coexistence.
Hans Kung, the internationally respected theologian, has been arguing for a long time that there can be no peace among the nations without peace among the religious, and no peace among the religious without conversation and dialogue.
In this matter Christians take their charge from the words of the Master at the Last Supper: "I pray . . . that all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you . . . that they be one in us!" (Jn 17:21)
Here Jesus pleads with all those who profess faith in him. All are to recognize that the bonding which comes with new life in Jesus is perpetual. Christians who live by the "way" of Jesus realize that his indwelling also unites each member in a profound and permanent manner. Even with denominational differences Christians are still "one" in the Lord.
Over the centuries this Christian belief regarding unity in Christ has been brutally abused. In the great divide of the Eastern and Western Churches of the 11th century, the basic doctrine of unity in Christ was shelved for political and administrative objectives. Likewise had Jesus' plea for a continuous unity in the Church been heeded, and had Church leaders treated each other with the mutual respect that comes with full acceptance of this doctrine, the reformation conflicts could have been resolved.
Given our past failures, given a fuller understanding of the Scripture texts, why do we have such a divide between local Christian congregations? Not only is there hostility and reticence to cooperate in Christian works, but also reports continue of preachers "bad-mouthing" other local groups.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25 is an excellent time to reflect on what Jesus would have us do so as to cooperatively build the kingdom. This internationally observed week of prayer was initiated by an Anglican priest, Father Paul Watson, in New York's Hudson Valley. He felt called to promote unity among Christians and in 1908 the first observance of a prayer week took place.
In the 1930s a French priest, Paul Couturier, promoted a similar week of prayer during which Christians should pray together "for the unity Christ wills and by the means He wills."
Since 1966 the World Council of Churches and the Vatican have been collaborating in selecting Scriptures and themes for the annual observance. The 2003 theme is based on 2 Corinthians 4:5-18: "We hold this treasure - this gift - in earthen vessels . . . Therefore we do not lose heart . . . "
Our "gift" is the life of Jesus Christ within. His "strength" within enables us to overcome the obstacles we encounter. His "light" shines in our hearts "so that we in turn can make known the glory of God . . ."
Since 1991 the Sunday within the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been named Ecumenical Sunday. The idea was first promoted by the National Council of Churches as a day for local churches to interpret to their members the meaning and work of the ecumenical movement. This later addition is now an integral part of Unity Week.
On Sunday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. the Rev. Harold Skillrud, a retired Lutheran bishop, will speak at St. Pius X Church in Conyers addressing the 2003 unity theme. The service is being organized by local churches; all churches and the public are invited.
Pope John Paul II has said that we should not see ecumenicism (the search for Christian unity) as an appendix to Church activity, but rather let it be integral to its mission.
Observers of the Week of Prayer acknowledge that we have received the gift of faith from Jesus . . . that we hold this treasure in our fragile earthen vessels . . . but at the same time we resolve to become beacons of his life to the whole world about us.
Father Kieran is pastor of St. Pius X Church, 2621 Highway 20, SE, Conyers. For directions or information call the church at (770) 483-3660.
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