Pope Prays for Unity Among Christians

The desire for unity and reconciliation are nothing new, but recently I've started seeing a different dimension of it.  Often the differences between Christians is so marked that it goes far beyond doctrinal and historical disputes.  Often the differences strike at the heart of our greatest values and even makes it hard to see how some who claim Christianity as their faith can rightly do so.

Before I became a Catholic the idea of unity and reconciliation wasn't all that important to me.  Indeed as an Evangelical unity with Catholicism wasn't high on my list of things to pray for--at least from the viewpoint of one having a Protestant ethos, though deep within I heard my spiritual home calling me for years.

As a contrast, I recall 15 years ago, a couple years or so after becoming a Catholic, the idea of ecumenism and unity were utmost in my mind.  I remember having an overwhelming desire to work for unity with those seperated from us.  Perhaps it was because I knew the faith that I had come from was a real faith, though its beliefs and values were quite different from those I had come to claim as my own as a Catholic.

I consider the article I'm blogging today to be timely in that there's been a lot to say recently about the situation of diversity in America--and world abroad too.  Specifically the differences highlighted in the practice of faith and American politics comes to mind.

On Saturday afternoon, at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, the Holy Father marked the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by presiding over the second Vespers of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The Pope reminded his audience that is only by allowing ourselves to be conquered by the love of Christ that true unity can be achieved.

The ceremony, which this year coincided with the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Apostle, was attended by cardinals and bishops, as well as by representatives from other Churches and ecclesial communities.

In Pope Benedict’s homily, he reflected upon the conversion of St. Paul, saying "it presents us with a model of, and shows us the way to, full unity" which, "calls for conversion: from division to communion, from a lacerated unity, to a restored and complete unity."

The conversion of the Apostle to the Gentiles "was not a move from immorality to morality, from an erroneous faith to a correct faith, rather it was the fact of being conquered by the love of Christ, of renouncing one's own perfection. It was the humility of one who placed himself unreservedly at the service of Christ for his brothers and sisters. And it is only in this self-renunciation, in this conformity to Christ, that we also become united to one another, that we become 'one' in Christ. It is communion with the risen Christ that gives us unity."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Kevin]

Hello Deacon Dan,

I read your post regarding unity for christians, and I too have been troubled by this for at least the past 7 years. Did you watch the National Prayer Service held at the National Cathedral in Washington DC?

For me it was the high point of the inauguration and truly provided a sign of "hope." Nearly every religion was represented and for a brief moment everyone was praying together and all "doctrinal" differences were left outside the door.

Is this not what God wants? All men to love one another, and respect one another without malice or hate.

Obviously this was for the inauguration, but can you imagine if prayer services like this were conducted every Sunday?

Why not??? Anything is possible.

Here is an overview of the National Prayer Service.
Is it possible that for a brief moment the Pope's prayer was answered.

The prayer service will "embody the themes of tolerance, unity, and understanding." It will be an interfaith service.

The sermon will be given by Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President, Disciples of Christ (Christian Church). Reverend Watkins will be the first woman to deliver a sermon at a National Prayer Service. It is not clear yet where in the service schedule her sermon will come.

The music will be provided by the Washington D.C.-based Gospel Children's Choir.
National Prayer Service Program

Welcome - Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd III, Dean of the Washington Cathedral

Invocation - Reverend John Bryon Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington

Opening Prayer - Reverend Otis Moss Jr., Senior Pastor Emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio

Prayer for Civil Leaders - Reverend Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Georgia

Scripture Readings - Dr. Cynthia Hale, Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, New York City, and the Most Reverend Francisco Gonzalez, S.F., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

Psalm Reading - Rabbi David Saperstein, Executive Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, D.C.

Responsive Prayers--
Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America, Hartford, CT
Rev. Suzan Johnson-Cook, Senior Pastor, Bronx Christian Fellowship, New York City
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Director, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York City
Rev. Carol Wade of the Washington National Cathedral
Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York City
Rev. Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners, Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Haskal Lookstein, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurunm, New York City
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, TX
Prayer for the Nation - Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C

Closing Prayer - Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori, Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church USA

Benediction - Reverend Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America

[Carol]

I wish someone had provided this kind of elaboration and talk-up of the Assisi meetings, but ah, well--it was only the Pope calling for those.

The above sounds a lot like the program at our ecumenical services for Thanksgiving Day as well as for MLK Day the past decade or two. Both these holidays' celebrations move around the city's churches of many denominations including at the Temple. The usual 100-200 or so souls show up. It is very hard for a Catholic to be in a congregation where Christ hasn't lived (Temple) and where He isn't crucified (Protestant). On the other hand, it's very illuminating. Unity-wise, tho', we do it twice a year, and everyone seems okay with that.