[(Ex. 15: 1-21;) Rom. 8: 12-27; Mk. 5: 21-43]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Belgium’s official motto is Eendracht maakt macht, L’union fait la force (Unity makes for strength).
It’s not often that a country might serve as an example, a quirky example for the Church...but this is Belgium, we’re special.
In spite of being a historical anomaly, despite of the complicated linguistic and socio-cultural differences and regardless of holding the world record of managing without a national government for 589 days, despite of all that and much more this small country still soldiers on, albeit it in its own mind-boggling peculiar way.
Other countries have broken up, sometimes violently, for less.
Belgium as an example for unity in diversity, for cooperation and compromise, for agreement on disagreement...as an example for ecumenism? A lot of its characteristics do sound familiar to the Church, don’t they.
Belgium, we’re special, as is -let’s face it- the Church.
And what if the Church and churches could be examples for countries, for the World as a whole?
What if ecumenism, the striving for visible Church unity could serve as an example to the nations despite of all the religious wars throughout history, despite the sectarian tensions and separations still ongoing, despite some deep theological divides.
Because even for all the squabbling and condemning and even excommunicating, the churches as expressions of the one Church have something that no country or nation could ever have; the Church at her very core holds something precious and marvellous no political or cultural entity could ever hold: a unity that is absolutely already hers, a unity that -while it may not look it on the surface- can never be divided, can never be broken, as unbelievable as that may seem looking at it from a distance.
The unity of the three Persons of the Trinity, the unity of the two natures of Christ ánd the unity of the one Christian Church.
How is this possible? What makes this existing unity a reality? How is it that the Church can never in her essence be dis-united?
Because of the constant presence and eternal activity of the Holy Spirit! (that why!)
This is the double sin: not only are the churches outwardly divided, many Christians don’t even realise or -which is even worse!- don’t acknowledge that the Church is already inwardly one.
That’s why a week as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is such an important Church-wide event, from the grassroots up to the top down.
At least for this week most -if unfortunately not all- Christians in the northern hemisphere are somehow involved in jointly celebrating what binds us together and reflecting or lamenting on what still divides us.
For some denominations this requires a real effort, really stepping out of their comfort zone, for others the differences are non-essential. For some it’s still painful, for others this week is a highlight on the church calendar. For some an ecumenical spring is dawning, others are frustrated that things aren’t moving along quicker. For some churches this visible unity involves more uniformity, for others the details aren’t dealbreakers.
For all its many flaws the ecumenical movement has for the last 50-60 years given hope and inspiration to Christians of all varieties. And even if things seem to be dragging on, that too may serve as an example for the secular world, that patience and perseverance are useful and necessary virtues.
However, this meeting and growing closer can only happen by the guidance of the Spirit, because it’s only the Spirit who can break down the mental and religious barriers.
Only God can make us aware of the unity already granted, only God can help us make this unity visible to the world, so that the world may believe.
This year it are the churches from the Caribbean who put together the material for Unity Week and for their theme they chose a verse from the Old Testament, from Exodus 15(:6):
“Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power.”
It seems like an odd theme, a verse from the Song of Moses and Miriam: the Israelites have just escaped from slavery and the Egyptian military in pursuit have drowned in the Red Sea. It doesn’t exactly make us think of churches coming together in the Cathedral of Gent and celebrating all they share, now does it.
Gerald F. Rafferty, an American Catholic theologian commented on this year’s theme as follows:
“Our theme is a poetic expression. In the Bible, poetry is the form used in order to express an experience... Typical of Hebrew poetry is the insight that what God has done for a particular specific need or situation is extended into a belief that God also acts in the same way always and on all levels... And so we are called to praise Him for all His work.” -end quote.
Our theme emphasises the great and mighty works God does for His people, the gifts He bestows and the promises He keeps, even those we don’t see, we don’t acknowledge or we don’t understand. God is the ever acting God, restoring a World in peril from the sin of greed and fear, and unifying the Church in trouble because of the sin of arrogance and self-righteousness.
So, Unity makes for strength declares Belgium’s motto.
Of course the country’s laws make provisions for a great variety among its citizens. Perhaps such an arrangement could work for a closer-knit federalised Church-institution as well, even with all its frustrating complexity.
Can the ecumenical movement serve as a model, as a template for the World and how it should handle its conflict resolution, how it should always keep encountering the opposing side?
Justification by grace through faith because of Christ alone.
Made free to serve.
One holy catholic and apostolic Church by grace through faith built on Christ alone.
Made one to serve.
This Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an annual event not just to make us Christians feel good, to soothe our consciences but it serves as a good reminder of that gracious unity already given, of the importance of publicly expressing our endowed unity and to listen to the examples around us, even if they come from unexpected and special places.
And the peace of God which passes all our understanding -and disunity- keep your hearts and minds in Christ our Lord. Amen