Like many in America, I come from a family that suffered the consequences of separation and divorce. After 17 years of marriage, my mom and dad divorced – an experience that probably had a bigger impact on my little sisters than my teen-age self, but still, not a good thing.
After some pretty bitter years, over time, my mom and dad gradually learned to interact with each other. So much so that my father would “sneak away” from his significant other to join all of us at mom’s house on Christmas and other holidays.
Were it not for a tragic car crash that took my dad’s life, I believe they would have eventually reconciled when they got older and wiser. But, alas, that was not to be.
More than 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus inspired a movement that would eventually become Christianity – a faith that embraced the good news, the new way of the Lord and one that was catholic (small c), meaning worldwide.
Eventually the Catholic Church (BIG C) would organize and become part of the foundation of a changing world. Inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, it was – and is – a source for all that is good, but is not immune to human failures. While the essence of our faith comes from God and is without error, the way we interpret and handle things is not always so good.
Hence, we have become a broken family ourselves. First in the year 1054, the Orthodox Christian church split from the Catholic Church; then in 1517, Martin Luther began a new movement of Protestant Christianity. At first, a single division, it has grown to be an umbrella for hundreds of variations of churches around the globe.
With each and every fracture of the original church established by Jesus on the day of Pentecost, there has arisen a variety of new teachings – some more radical than others, and some faiths have gone so far as to forget their roots in Christianity in order to develop their own theologies.
This week in January has been set aside for all these various Christian-based faiths to pray for unity. This is the time to focus more on what we agree on, rather than the things of which we disagree.
Today’s readings might help us with that. They are a reminder that there is one MAJOR THING we can all agree on … and that is the person, the teachings, the witness and the soul-saving actions of the man, Jesus Christ.
From today’s first reading, St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews:
Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
How true those words ring today as we continue to suffer the scandal of many in our church and in other churches while holding steadfast to our faith. There is hope – there is ALWAYS hope – that Christian unity will come to pass. We must never give up trying.
Despite our differences, it’s heartwarming to witness when people of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds gather around a single cause – whether that be a pro-life march in Washington, DC or building a new soup kitchen, homeless shelter or hospital in the heart of an inner city.
Despite our human weakness and flaws, we have the capacity to join together to battle against the evil forces of this world.
We can be inspired by today’s Gospel, which shows us that even when Jesus was walking the land, curing the weak and crippled, the “unclean spirits” of the devil would recognize him (when others had not) and would obey his commands.
Imagine what the devil would do if all of us – Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Greek Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventists, the Amish, the Mennonites, the Mormons, our friends in the Jewish faith, our Muslim brothers and sisters, Hindu, Sikh and so many others – what if we all could gather as one to defeat the corrupt forces of our culture who would lead us to ruin?
Today we should pray not just for Christian unity … but for unity among all who believe in God or in a divine authority whose rule surpasses the rules of man … to continue to find ways to work together for peace, prosperity for a taste of heaven here on earth.
From today’s Responsorial Psalm:
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
