January 20, 2012
The Christian Journey
Jesus gives us the example to pray that all may be one
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began this past Wednesday, Jan. 18 and concludes Jan. 25, the Feast of the Apostle Paul’s Conversion. Besides celebrating Masses for Christian Unity, prayer services with other Christians are also encouraged. The Book of Blessings provides an “Order for the Blessing of Ecumenical Groups” [553-569]. For our family prayer, “The Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers,” a prayer book composed for various family needs and seasons, offers two prayers for Christian Unity. The Church wants us to take seriously Jesus’ prayer for unity among his disciples for which he prayed on the night before he died.
Jesus’ prayer for unity among his followers has always intrigued me coming at a moment when he would face the divisiveness of the cruelest evil of hate, jealousy, power; in general, from sin. What most occupied Jesus’ mind and heart that eve before his death? That his disciples be spared any similar experience of division. History shows us this was not to be the reality.
Americans respect religious freedom. Valuing the plurality of many Christian denominations, we know that historically there was only one Christian community or “Catholic Church” – composed of both the Eastern and the Western Churches. Unfortunately, they divided in 1054; and in 1545, the Western Church underwent a division. Catholics became known as “Roman Catholics,” i.e., those adhering to the pope in Rome. Those protesting against the Church or wanting to reform some of the abuses were called “Protestants.” Henceforth, we no longer observed the same calendar of religious events, which was also the secular calendar.
The division between Christians came about because of stubbornness, miscommunication and unwillingness to change, and a host of social and political reasons. What we value now as religious freedom to worship in the Christian denomination of one’s choice did not begin in a Christian way, but rather in hatred which is never of God’s Spirit. Therefore, Christians must work to overcome the divisions and prejudices that exist first in our own hearts, then our families, and finally our church communities. Only God knows what Christian unity will look like in the end! If Jesus prayed for our unity, can Christians do anything less?
Remember the days of “mixed marriages” in the Catholic Church? Prior to Vatican II, to discourage them, they were usually celebrated in the priest’s house or sacristy. Today we no longer call a marriage between two Christians of different denominations a “mixed marriage,” but rather an “ecumenical marriage.” The ceremony is celebrated in the church with the Protestant minister participating. With the local bishop’s permission, the couple may even be married in the Protestant Church with or without the Catholic priest attending and the marriage is valid.
In a pastoral letter, Pope John Paul II wrote that both spouses in an ecumenical marriage bear the responsibility of sharing their Christian faith with their children. Spouses, who successfully build a common faith in Jesus as the foundation in their marriage, may be catalysts for the whole church desiring unity. Quite a change from 50 years ago, wouldn’t you say!
May the Collect from the Mass for Christian Unity be ours this week: “Make known in us, O Lord, the abundance of your mercy and, in the power of your Spirit, remove the divisions between Christians, that your Church may appear more clearly as a sign raised high among the nations and that the world, enlightened by your Spirit, may believe in the Christ whom you have sent. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”