Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 2 Reflection

Day 2 (January 19), Called to be Messengers of Joy

Scripture

Philippians 2:1-5—Make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind….Humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.

Meditation—Living the Virtues of Joy and Humility

It seems to me that joy comes from inside of us. Material goods can make us happy but living in the Spirit with our hearts transformed in love brings something deeper-- joy. There is a certain joy in being united with other believers. At least this has been my experience.

On October 30th, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs issued a document—a Declaration on the Way [to unity]. This summary of 50 years of International and National Dialogues was greeted with much more joy than I could have imagined. I had expected this joy from Lutheran-Catholic married couples. But it was more widespread. Numerous people rejoiced that so much had been achieved and seemed energized to continue on the way.

To continue I will also need the humility St. Paul mentions in connection with joy. I/we need the humility to say: I have something to share and something to learn from my Lutheran colleagues. I do not have all the answers. I need to listen with my head and heart and see what the Spirit is saying to me through them.

I also need to go deeper in humility. St. Francis de Sales [d. 1622], speaks of a 3rd and deeper stage of humility where we accept our humiliations. I am only able to stay at this stage for brief periods of time. I don’t want to think about my humiliations too much. My own tendency to avoid humiliation sometimes comes into focus in dialogue. Some episodes of Catholic Church history are humiliating. Recently I found that I was avoiding the chapter in a book on the Middle Ages that details the treatment of the Jewish people. It is hard reading.

My joy is that with the document Nostra Aetate of the Second Vatican Council we have established a new relationship with the Jewish people. My joy is that Lutherans and Catholics are coming closer together. As St. Paul says to the Philippians, let us be humble like Christ and experience the joy of the Spirit.

Prayer



God of love, look upon our willingness to serve you despite our spiritual poverty and limited abilities. Fulfil the deepest longings of our hearts with your presence. Fill our broken hearts with your healing love so that we may love as you have loved us. Grant us the gift of unity so that we may serve you with joy and share your love with all. This we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Father John Crossin, OSFS is executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He tweets @crossinusccb.​

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 1 reflection

Day 1 (January 18), Let the stone be rolled away



Scripture


Matthew 28:1-10, He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.

Do not be afraid.



Meditation—Obstacles to Spiritual Growth



On reaching the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encountered an obstacle, the stone in front of the tomb. For me this symbolizes our obstacles to encountering Jesus and his message of mercy and healing.



Some obstacles, such as our fears, our broken relationships, our past hurts, and so forth, are within us and can be hard even to acknowledge. Yet only insofar as we accept that they are there can we begin the healing process.



Some obstacles are in our culture. Today as we remember Martin Luther King we recall his powerful nonviolent witness for racial justice. He encouraged people to reach out beyond their fears and social prejudices to follow Jesus message of love. We still need to hear this message. Racism and other prejudices are still in us and around us.



Healing, whether personal or communal, can take time. I still bear some of the negative marks of growing up in what Philadelphians called ‘the lily-white Northeast’ part of town. In my youth, civil rights were just beginning to be taken seriously. Our life experiences affect us. All of us need deeper healing in one form or another.



When the women met the Risen Jesus, He encouraged them not to be afraid. He offered them a form of healing. In His power we too can overcome personal and cultural obstacles to seeing others clearly and treating every person with respect.



Such mutual respect is at the root of social justice and of the search for Christian Unity.





Prayer



Lord Jesus, you have always loved us from the beginning, and you have shown the depth of your love in dying for us on the cross and thereby sharing our sufferings and wounds. At this moment, we lay all the obstacles that separate us from your love at the foot of your cross. Roll back the stones which imprison us. Awaken us to your resurrection morning. There may we meet the brothers and sisters from whom we are separated. Amen.



Father John Crossin, OSFS is executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He tweets @crossinusccb.​

You Are Not Forgotten: Statement of the Coordination of Bishops' Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land

Since 1998, the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land has met at the invitation of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. Mandated by the Holy See, the Holy Land Coordination meets every January in the Holy Land, focusing on prayer, pilgrimage and persuasion with the aim of acting in solidarity with the Christian community as it experiences intense political and social-economic pressure. Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, represented the United States.

Full text of their statement follows.

“We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it.” (Laudato Si 229).

Bishops pray at Mt. Nebo  in Jordan, where Moses viewed the land of Israel.

As the Bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, we echo Pope Francis' plea in his recent Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si (Praise Be to You), to remember our interdependence in an integrated world.  Here in this land holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, we have been reminded during our visit of the Church's enduring presence among the weak and vulnerable and those who are too often forgotten. We take away our experiences and the stories that we have heard, and we are determined to give a voice to the voiceless.

The ongoing violence makes it all the more urgent that we remember and assist all, especially those on the margins, who seek to live in justice and peace.

To the Christian community and young people of Gaza, you are not forgotten. The 2014 war led to the destruction of thousands of homes and the physical and social infrastructure of Gaza, as well as the deaths of both Israelis and Palestinians. One and a half years later, while there are signs of hope and the resilience of the population is remarkable, many remain homeless and traumatised by the war. The blockade continues to make their lives desperate and they effectively live in a prison. At Holy Family Parish we were told: "In this Year of Mercy, one of the acts of mercy is to visit prisoners and I thank you for visiting the largest prison in the world." The ability of so many Christians and Muslims to support each other in this situation is a visible sign of hope and, at a time when many seek to divide communities, an example to us all.

Bishop Cantú, center, greets parishioners in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

To the Christian community of Beit Jala, where the Israeli confiscation of land and the expansion of the separation wall in the Cremisan Valley, in violation of international law, further undermine their presence in the Holy Land, you are not forgotten. Throughout 2016 we shall raise your plight nationally and internationally.

To those Israelis and Palestinians who seek peace, you are not forgotten. The right of Israel to live in security is clear, but the continuing occupation eats away at the soul of both occupier and occupied. Political leaders across the world must put greater energy into a diplomatic solution to end nearly 50 years of occupation and resolve the ongoing conflict so the two peoples and three faiths can live together in justice and peace.

Bishop Cantú speaks with a man near the Cremisan Valley whose lands were confiscated and his ancient olive trees cut down.

To the Christian refugees we met in Jordan, you are not forgotten. We heard about the trauma and difficulties in trying to rebuild their lives. For most, returning home is no longer an option. Jordan is struggling to cope with almost a quarter of its population now made up of refugees. The efforts of the local Church and NGOs in reaching out to all refugees - both Christian and Muslim - are significant and commendable in terms of addressing the refugees' loss of human dignity, but the international community must do more to alleviate their plight and work for peace across the region.

A full church greets the bishops in Jordan.

To the priests, religious communities and lay people of the Church in Jordan, you are not forgotten. The Church in Jordan is vital and growing, but Christians are fearful of the growing extremism in the region. It is to be hoped that the coming into force on 1 January of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, offers us a model of dialogue and cooperation between States that respects and preserves freedom of religion and freedom of conscience for all people.

With a promise of active solidarity, we make our own the prayer of Pope Francis in Laudato Si: “O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.”

Archbishop Stephen Brislin, South Africa
Bishop Peter Bürcher, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Bishop Oscar Cantú, United States of America
Archbishop Rodolfo Cetoloni, Italy
Bishop Christopher Chessun, Church of England
Bishop Michel Dubost, France
Bishop Lionel Gendron, Canada
Bishop Felix Gmur, Switzerland
Bishop William Kenney, England and Wales, COMECE
Bishop Declan Lang, England and Wales
Bishop John McAreavey, Ireland
Bishop William Nolan, Scotland
Bishop Thomas Maria Renz, Germany
Archbishop Joan Enric Vives, Spain

Photos courtesy of @stevecolecchi.

50 Years After Dignitatis Humanae: An Insider’s Reflection on Religious Freedom Today

By Emily Huezo

Father Jack Nuelle, M.S., a Missionary of La Salette and Executive Director of the United States Catholic Missions Association, was a young seminarian studying in Rome during the Second Vatican Council and serving as a translator for the Council fathers. His proximity to the Council gave Fr. Nuelle a unique insider experience that he shared in an interview.

When asked if he would give his perspective on where we are now with respect to religious freedom and Dignitatis Humanae, Fr. Nuelle explained that unlike previous councils, there was not a crisis of faith or dogma that the Church had to define. Rather, the Council gave the Church a chance to look at things somewhat differently. “In time, the Church grows in understanding of herself and her teachings.”

Fr. Nuelle described the difficulties the Council fathers faced in writing Dignitatis Humanae. There was fear that freedom would be taken to mean license, and there was uncertainty about what the document would mean for the relationship between church and state, particularly for European nations. Fifty years later, as the dust is beginning to settle, there is a deeper understanding of what Dignitatis Humanae means by “freedom” – it is not license, but responsibility.

As a Missionary of La Salette, Fr. Nuelle spent 30 years in Madagascar teaching the native people about the truth and love of Jesus Christ. The Church has long recognized that people in all societies strive to know God and live justly. “We are all free to enjoy God in the way we come to know him, but the freedom that Dignitatis Humanae describes comes in knowing God in his fullness,” according to Fr. Nuelle. If freedom is simply being able to do whatever we want whenever we want, then we are not really free. We are most free when we do what is right and good.

Pope Francis has reminded us that everything we do affects others. Indeed, our actions can affect the whole of creation, from the natural environment, to the social and cultural environment. Fr. Nuelle explained that Dignitatis Humanae teaches that human dignity is rooted in the fact that we are God’s children. This dignity allows each of us to bring something to the world that only we can bring. However, Fr. Nuelle explained that this is not a “private dignity”; rather, the various spiritualties, traditions, and cultures present in the Church all come together in “the mosaic that is the Church”. Each piece of the mosaic has its own personal dignity that can never be denied, but its dignity is highlighted and magnified by how it fits in the mosaic. We must do what is right for the common good. We must do our part in light of the whole.

Emily Huezo is an Executive Assistant for the USCCB Office of General Counsel and assists with the work of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. Learn more about the U.S. bishops' religious liberty efforts at www.usccb.org/freedom.

Religious Liberty and Ecumenical Dialogue

By John W. Crossin, OSFS

As the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Second Vatican Council come to a close, there is one last anniversary to commemorate. Dignitatis Humanae, or the Declaration on Religious Freedom, was the last document to be promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI from Council on December 7, 1965. This document is foundational for the dialogue process.

This past June I attended my first meeting of the Joint Working Group between the World Council of Churches [WCC] and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity [PCPCU]. The meeting took place in Rome and the second will occur in Geneva next September as the twenty of us from all parts of the globe familiarize ourselves with each other’s mission and structure.

In the week-long meeting I was reminded that the relationship began before the Second Vatican Council. There were some initial conversations between the WCC and Cardinal Bea’s Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity especially through the then-Monsignor (later Cardinal) Willebrands who had come to work at the Secretariat. As the ecumenical officer for the Dutch Bishops he had regular contact with WCC officials in Geneva.

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration on Religious Liberty of the Council, we do well to recall this early relationship. Scholars note that the WCC leaders spoke to the Secretariat about the importance of religious liberty to ecumenism.

If there is no religious liberty, ecumenical dialogue loses its credibility. It is no accident that along with the Decree on Ecumenism, with Nostra Aetate and with related parts of other Council documents, Cardinal Bea’s Secretariat shepherded the Declaration on Religious Liberty for several years. Much to their credit, Cardinals Bea and Willebrands saw the importance of religious liberty not only for their work but for the good of communities throughout the world.

The final document, influenced greatly by the scholarly research and practical sense of the American John Courtney Murray, S.J., was and remains foundational in a host of ways. For example it discourages proselytism and encourages respect for the conscientious decision of each person about their faith. It is a touchstone for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. I see this as I help to continue the honest conversations begun by colleagues over fifty years ago.


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 Father John W. Crossin is an Oblate of St. Francis DeSales and executive director of the U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

The Challenge of Religious Freedom

In 1965, the Catholic Church promulgated Dignitatis Humanae, its Declaration on Religious Liberty. The declaration teaches about the nature of religious freedom, truth, and the relationship between the Church and government. This teaching does not only affect Church officials, leaders, and administrators. It makes a demand on each and every one of us, for we are a called to a life of holiness, a life of seeking and living the truth about God.

One of the great challenges that many people face in our spiritual lives today is to succumb to a kind of spiritual listlessness, a sense that persevering on the hard road of discipleship day-in and day-out is unnecessary and yields few rewards. The temptation can afflict anyone. We may ask ourselves, do I really need to go to confession? Why should I go to Mass? Can’t I just “worship” by enjoying a nice brunch with friends and loved ones? Sociologists who study the religious attitudes of Americans have long shown that most people, from almost all faith groups, believe that God basically just wants us to be nice and happy.

This spiritual condition helps drive our current struggles over religious freedom. The steadfast commitment to principle and conscience that we see in people like the Little Sisters of the Poor might seem odd in an environment when almost anything is up for compromise. Principled people challenge the idea that God only wants us to be nice and happy. They bear witness to a different way, a way of unyielding devotion to the truth.

When we think of religious freedom, we may tend to think of civil rights and the government, rather than spirituality. Nevertheless, a call to discipleship flows from the Declaration on Religious Liberty. Dignitatis Humanae teaches that human beings have both a right and a duty to pursue the truth, especially the truth about God. Indeed, the right follows from the duty. All of us must seek the truth and comport our lives with the truth when we discover it. This is a major challenge that the Declaration on Religious Liberty asks us to encounter today.

We are all called to holiness, and that means that we are all called be vigilant in our search for truth and to hold fast to our principles, to refuse to compromise on matters of conscience. A culture in which religious freedom thrives is one that is populated by truth-seekers. When the search for truth is compromised across broad swaths of society, religious freedom is diminished. Dignitatis Humanae reminds us that religious freedom is a cultural and spiritual issue, as well a political and social one. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dignitatis Humanae in the middle of Advent, a time set aside for Christians to prepare to meet the Divine Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. This is the perfect time to strengthen our resolve to be people of principle, who constantly seek to conform our lives to the truth that has been revealed to us in Christ.

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Aaron Matthew Weldon is Program Specialist for the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. Learn more about the U.S. bishops' religious liberty efforts at www.usccb.org/freedom.

Follow the USCCB's religious freedom efforts on Twitter: @usccbfreedom