Christian Unity Week
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from January 21, 2007
"Now the body is not a single part but many.." 1 Cor 12:15
Pedro walked 2 hours a day to high-school in Banica. I first met Pedro when he was 12. We were organizing a neighborhood-based faith community in Pilon, an isolated area south of the Artibonito River, which divides our diocesan mission in the Dominican Republic, from Haiti. His neighbors elected Pedro as their animator and chief catechist. Among other reasons, he was one of the few who could read and write. When he proclaimed the Word, he spoke with an authority that belied his years and already prefigured his charism for leadership. A highlight of my recent visit was the opportunity to celebrate the liturgy in Banica and Sabana Cruz, assisted by the newly ordained deacon, Pedro Mateo. In six months, he will be the first priest ever ordained from the frontier parishes of Banica and Pedro Santana. It was twelve years since our first meeting; nine of them spent in seminary training. His community was proud to welcome him home to read the Gospel, clad in his diaconal stole.
The experience of the church in Banica, and throughout most of the Catholic world is quite different from ours. The community of Pilon is lucky if the Eucharist is celebrated there each month. The faith community increasingly for Catholics is centered on the Word of God. There was a time when Protestants called their ministers ‘preachers’, as distinct from priests, who led the rituals. Since Vatican II, our Catholic tradition has increasingly seen a priority given to the preaching role for its priests. The Liturgy of the Word is seen as an integral part of the Sunday liturgy. Catholics have become gradually more familiar with the reading of the Scriptures.
During Christian Unity week, we remember the common values we share with other Christians. This renewed focus on God's Word offers us a ground for understanding and unity.
St. Paul underlines the powerful role of the Spirit in the life of the churches. Again, we have grown in our claim on the Spirit since the days we Catholics confined the action of the Holy Ghost to exam preparation, and the Confirmation ceremony. The Holy Spirit is the source of unity between the diverse parts of Christ's body. While the Body of Christ 'subsists' in the Catholic Church, it is not confined to our denomination. "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, we are all given to drink of the one Spirit." (1 Cor 12:13) The followers of Jesus are as diverse and united as a mosaic.
The Gospel account of Jesus' inaugural address in his native Nazareth offers to me the most practical way toward unity and understanding.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." (Lk 4:14)
I have had the honor to represent Bishop Loverde on the Board of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. We bring together the members and organizations of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian traditions across the Commonwealth, in order to "unite for social justice." As we work for a measure of human dignity for low wage workers, the homeless and those on the margins, we advance the search for Salaam, Shalom, Paz, Peace. As we rub elbows in the work of compassion, we learn that we are a family of believers with a shared destiny.
During this Christian unity week, let us not make religion one more wedge of difference, another aspect of the politics of identity that leads to violence. Let us not jump to polarization. Instead, let us honor the common ground we share; the Word of God, the unifying Spirit, and the work of peace.
