Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Each year from January 18th to the 25th is Christian Unity Week, a time to go beyond our own communities of faith, blame ourselves for out lack of unity, while making efforts to do better, and pray for the day we will be one in Christ. This was the reason behind the creation of the Octave, renewing our desire for unity and fellowship among Christians. The Catholic Times editorial stresses the importance of this week of prayer for all of us.

The Church began a renewed desire for Christian unity after the Second Vatican Council. In the Decrees on Ecumenism and on Eastern Catholic Churches, and in the Declaration on Religious Freedom, ecumenism was  covered in detail. We have more in common that unites us than in the elements that separate us. The belief in Jesus and love, and the absolute love for the word of God that we have in common, makes the Church here on earth work for unity.

Our fellowship with other Christians, as brothers and sisters in Christ, should also be extended to those with different beliefs. We as Christians continue to dialogue and to cooperate with the other religions in our own country. We should not  be limited, the editorial goes on to say, by our religious beliefs and different cultural backgrounds from embracing the whole world.
 
The archbishop of Gwangju, president of the  Korean Bishops Conference commission promoting Christian unity and Inter-religious dialogue, in a recent talk, quotes Micah 6:8: "You have been told, Oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God." This, said the archbishop, should be our concern.
 
We need this true unity and harmony within our own faith communities, as a prerequisite, if we are to be successful working for unity with others. We should have a unity of the diocese with the parishes and a unity and harmony of priests and parishioners. This should be our starting point when our goal is to live in unity and harmony with all religions and be of service to all of humanity.

It is easy to forget that the way we relate with those we know the best often translates into the way we relate--often even more so--with those not so close. Our attitudes are what affects our words and actions in our present communities, which can prepare us to be more effective peacemakers to the larger community outside.