Fr. Kevin's Cluttered Desk
January 17, 2021
This week begins the week of prayer for Christian unity. For the most part Christian unity means accepting and embracing those who think, believe, and act differently. Since the breadth of our thoughts, beliefs, and actions is wide the ability to respect each other and the diversity of thought becomes very important to this idea and movement. Christian unity sets our focus on Jesus and the glory of God, nothing else should matter. We as Christians are called to love the way Jesus did, the way Jesus loves us, for He laid down His life for our salvation. Christian unity in the New Testament gets its foundation from a combination of its sources, St. Paul tells us to “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), (Psalm 133), (1Corinthians 2:14-16), (John 10:30). We can take this to mean that the Holy Spirit is the great giver of unity. With the concept of unity among two or more people, or two or more groups of people, the idea of unity gets its virtue/goodness entirely from something else, that would be the purpose of the unity, that all might give praise and glory to God.
One of the symbols that is used for this unity is one we Catholics use every year and that is a multitude of candles. At the Easter Vigil candles are lit from the Easter candle and the light spreads through the building, each is individual but together they light up the world with not our light but the light of Christ that shines through us and gives glory to the Father. When we as Christians work together, we can accomplish great things, as long as we keep our focus on God, rejoice in the things we have in common, and respect each others’ differences.
I have put four talks on the website, reflecting on the four themes of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I hope you will take the time to listen and reflect with me. These will also be on the parish Facebook page during the week.
Peace Fr. Kevin
One of the symbols that is used for this unity is one we Catholics use every year and that is a multitude of candles. At the Easter Vigil candles are lit from the Easter candle and the light spreads through the building, each is individual but together they light up the world with not our light but the light of Christ that shines through us and gives glory to the Father. When we as Christians work together, we can accomplish great things, as long as we keep our focus on God, rejoice in the things we have in common, and respect each others’ differences.
I have put four talks on the website, reflecting on the four themes of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I hope you will take the time to listen and reflect with me. These will also be on the parish Facebook page during the week.
Peace Fr. Kevin
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