Is Christian unity really that important to Christians? I remember one Old Catholic priest who is really trying to live unity on a daily basis telling me that he and his friends call the local "Churches Together" group, Churches NOT together. I may disagree with the path he has taken but I fully respect his intentions and his integrity (I cannot go into too much detail here). So many of us talk about it and although we pray about it, the question has to be asked whether what we do is having any real effect. What kind of prayers are they anyway? Do we really commit ourselves to the Will of God? Are we really serious about unity? So many Catholics are not. Many Orthodox are not only indifferent, so many of them think it is actually sinful! Many Anglicans and Methodists think we are already united really and there is not much else to do. What does it matter that we do not believe the same things always? As long as we believe in some aspects of what we can all recognise as Christianity, what difference does it make?
What are we prepared to sacrifice for the sake of unity? Clearly, not the Truth, but are we so sure that everything that we regard as belonging to the Truth is really necessary or indispensable? Lifestyles are not necessarily part of the Faith. Customs, manners of dress and certain culturally informed styles of worship are not necessarily part of the Truth. Clearly there are going to be some disagreements about such things. Clearly, as much as we may want it, unity is not ours to construct. I believe that unity will be a gift from Heaven. We cannot do it. We can prepare for this gift - this miracle. According to the writings known as "True Life in God" unity will be given by God, one way or another. The keys to unity are humility and love. The unity we experience here and now is a unity "of the heart". There is no denial of Truth. This is not a "false ecumenism"; it is based on the two Great Commandments. We recognise God and find ourselves in Him. We recognise God's grace in each other. We seek the way of love based on faith and mutual respect. We work together and pray together as friends and brothers and sisters. Whenever we can we dispense with labels. We do not debate theology but we open our hearts and minds to each other asking the Holy Spirit to lead us forward. We rejoice in each others gifts and traditions, trying to understand and appreciate them more fully. We try to learn from each other. There is no fear because the work of unity is God's work; it is for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. According to those writings, the Churches are being asked to attempt some simple but important things, the chief of which is agreement on the date of Easter. When we can do this - and it demands humility and love - we will be ready to receive the graces that are being held for us. To show that amount of humility and love - for the sake of the proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ will be to open a door into a new way of living.
Sign the petition for one date for Easter
What are we prepared to sacrifice for the sake of unity? Clearly, not the Truth, but are we so sure that everything that we regard as belonging to the Truth is really necessary or indispensable? Lifestyles are not necessarily part of the Faith. Customs, manners of dress and certain culturally informed styles of worship are not necessarily part of the Truth. Clearly there are going to be some disagreements about such things. Clearly, as much as we may want it, unity is not ours to construct. I believe that unity will be a gift from Heaven. We cannot do it. We can prepare for this gift - this miracle. According to the writings known as "True Life in God" unity will be given by God, one way or another. The keys to unity are humility and love. The unity we experience here and now is a unity "of the heart". There is no denial of Truth. This is not a "false ecumenism"; it is based on the two Great Commandments. We recognise God and find ourselves in Him. We recognise God's grace in each other. We seek the way of love based on faith and mutual respect. We work together and pray together as friends and brothers and sisters. Whenever we can we dispense with labels. We do not debate theology but we open our hearts and minds to each other asking the Holy Spirit to lead us forward. We rejoice in each others gifts and traditions, trying to understand and appreciate them more fully. We try to learn from each other. There is no fear because the work of unity is God's work; it is for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. According to those writings, the Churches are being asked to attempt some simple but important things, the chief of which is agreement on the date of Easter. When we can do this - and it demands humility and love - we will be ready to receive the graces that are being held for us. To show that amount of humility and love - for the sake of the proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ will be to open a door into a new way of living.
Sign the petition for one date for Easter
Dream on Father. Please wake up to the Truth. one Holy Catholic Church . NO OTHER.
ReplyDeleteThis person has obviously not read ANYTHING Blessed Pope John Paul wrote about unity and misunderstands or is ignorant of the teaching of Vatican 11. YES there is only One, Holy, catholic and Apostolic Church but in order to understand correctly what this means we have to understand what we mean by "Church" and for this we need to look especially at the teaching of St. Augustine. We also need to think very clearly about the word "subsists" in relation to the Truth which, in its entirety, is found in the Catholic Church in union with Peter and in differing degrees is also found in other ecclesial communities.
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