"Each one of us forgives the killer"

Tonya Godwin-Baines agreed with her sister about the need for forgiveness.

"The thing that I would take away the most from my father is he taught us about God ... how to fear God, how to love God, and how to forgive. Each one of us forgives the killer."

Her voice breaking, Godwin-Baines credited her faith with keeping her strong and helping her recognize others are grieving, too.

Source: Melissa Mahtani - "Cleveland victim's family: We forgive killer", CNN, 18 April 2017
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/18/us/cleveland-victims-family-we-forgive-killer-cnntv/index.html

History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

What were some of the important historical antecedents to this octave of prayer? Certainly in the 19th century, the desire for Christians to pray together was part of the spirit of the age among those alarmed by the divisions which weakened the power of Christian witness. In 1846, for instance, the Evangelical Alliance was established in London and had developed both international and inter-church connections. Ruth Rouse noted that it was “the one and only definitely ecumenical organization . . . which arose out of the Evangelical Awakening in the 19th century” (A History of the Ecumenical Movement: 1517-1948). The concept of unity espoused in their constitution was union among Christian individuals of different churches for renewal in the Spirit; they would not deal with the question of the reunion of churches. The Alliance set aside one week beginning on the first Sunday of the year, for united prayer by members of different churches to pray for renewal in the Spirit.

Source: Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A. - "BACKGROUND: Brief History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", by Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A., Associate Director of Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, http://geii.org/week_of_prayer_for_christian_unity/background/brief_history.html

Catholics & Evangelicals

Catholics are already copying Protestant techniques for generating enthusiasm in their children (there’s even a growing Catholic niche within Contemporary Christian Music), and evangelicals are tinkering with the model of Catholic education in their own Christian schools. More substantively, many Catholics appreciate the straightforward earnestness of evangelical devotion, while evangelicals are beginning to appropriate the spiritual exercises and theological precision developed in the Catholic tradition. This is possible only because Catholics and evangelicals both have a rich love for Christ, and want it to get richer.

Source: Daniel P. Moloney - As quoted in a First Things letter to the editor, https://www.firstthings.com/article/2001/03/peter-and-mary-together

Reveal a Wound

The extension of Pope Francis’ trip to Sweden by one day to accommodate a papal Mass for the nations’ Catholics does not detract from the ecumenical power of the trip, but actually highlights the need for Christian unity, said the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation.

Initially, Pope Francis had planned to make a day trip to Sweden Oct. 31 to take part in two ecumenical events launching a year of commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. But at the urging of local Catholics, the pope decided to spend the night and celebrate Mass Nov. 1 before returning to Rome.

The Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary of the LWF, told reporters at the Vatican Oct. 26 that the Lutherans fully understand the desire of Catholics in Sweden to have Mass with the pope and the pastoral responsibility of the pope to fulfill that request.

“Of course,” he said, “it is also going to reveal that we are not yet united; it is going to reveal a wound that remains there” since the divisions between Catholics and Lutherans mean that in general Eucharist sharing still is not possible.

While Rev. Junge and other Lutheran leaders have accepted an invitation to attend the Mass, the fact that they will not receive Communion “is going to be a strong encouragement to continue working toward unity,” he said.

Source: Catholic News Service - "Ecumenical papal trip will also show pain of division, Lutheran says", 27 Oct 2016, https://cnstopstories.com/2016/10/27/ecumenical-papal-trip-also-will-show-pain-of-division-lutheran-says/

"Can this really be?"

As I lay there in the nighttime, with the lights off … I saw how wrong I had been. I had been expecting Jesus to use me, as a Pentecostal, to shake the churches. I thought I would pound home the truth, tell them just where they were wrong, shake them in righteous indignation. But the Lord sais, no, that's not the way. "The revival will occur if you forgive. If you fight - nothing."

During that time the Lord sent me again and again into chapter 13 of the First Letter to the Corinthians, the most powerful words ever written about love. I read, and I prayed, and I thought. "Can this really be?"

Love is so important that it is beyond our understanding as ordinary human beings. It is more important than talking in tongues to God. More important than talking directly to God. It is more important than prophesying, than receiving a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom directly from God. It is more important than healing the sick, than moving mountains. "Can this really be?"

It is more important than selling all you have to feed the poor. It is more important than giving your life in the cause of social justice. It is more important than your devotional life, than your preaching ministry. All is meaningless without love. "Can this really be?"

In that room of green walls, white ceiling, bedsores, bedpans, and endless hours, the Lord spoke: "You must love those people you minister to. Don't ever minister to anyone unless you love him."

Source: David du Plessis - From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, p. 159

Simeon's Song

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”

Source: Bible - Luke 2:25-32

Johann Christoph Arnold

On Holy Saturday, April 15, the world lost a giant of the faith, Johann Christoph Arnold.

Christoph had served as a pastor of the Bruderhof Communities for 43 years, as Elder for 18 years, and as Senor Elder since 2001.

Christoph was a passionate leader and author of 12 books that sold millions, including Why Forgive? his most famous book. He always went right to the root of life’s problems - whether writing about marriage and family, racism, peacemaking, death and dying, forgiveness, faith, and moral purity.

I met Christoph in the most unlikely place for both of us: in Rome at the Vatican. Pope Francis had invited both of us as non-Catholics to speak on the biblical meaning of marriage at his Vatican conference on marriage and family.

Although I had already loved reading many of his books, meeting Christoph made me love him even more. His quiet humility, his contagious smile and laugh, his deep love for both Jesus and people, and his passion for peacemaking evidenced the true spirit of Christ. I look forward to long discussions with him in Heaven one day. I thank God for the life of Christoph Arnold.

Source: Rick Warren - Posted on FB 18 April 2017

The Ecumenism Of Blood

There is another ecumenism, which we must recognize and which is so timely today: the ecumenism of blood. When terrorists or world powers persecute Christian minorities or Christians, when they do this, they do not ask: But are you Lutheran? Are you Orthodox? Are you Catholic? Are you reformed? Are you Pentecostal? No. “You are Christian.” They recognize only one: the Christian. We are witnesses, and I am thinking, for instance, of the Coptic Orthodox brothers beheaded on the beaches of Libya: they are our brothers. They gave witness to Christ and they died saying: “Jesus, help me!” With the name: they confessed Jesus’ name.

Source: Pope Francis - Zenit, "It’s Not My Jesus vs Your Jesus, But Our Jesus, Pope Says to Ecumenical Group", 13 Oct 2016, https://zenit.org/articles/its-not-my-jesus-vs-your-jesus-but-our-jesus-pope-says-to-ecumenical-group/

Gideon

The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

Source: Samuel - Judges 8:22-23 (NIV)

Identifying With The Sins Of The Nation

In responding to the broken heart of God, we need to identify with the sins of the nation in personal and corporate repentance. Even though Nehemiah was apparently a very righteous man and innocent of the specific sins that the nation of Israel had committed, when he prayed for the restoration of Israel he prayed as a member of the guilty nation, identifying with their sins, saying "I and my father's house have sinned." (Nehemiah 1:6-7) Ezra went even further when he said, "Oh my God: I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquitiies have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens" (Ezra 9:4) Both Ezra and Nehemiah were righteous men, but they so identified with the people that they were interceding for that they considered themselves guilty with them. You may be a righteous person who is not involved in any direct way with the vices present in your nation, but there is no temptation which is not common to humanity (1 Cor. 10:13). We can all identify with the roots of any given sin, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

Source: John Dawson - What Every Christian Should Know About Reconciliation, p. 20

Vatican II & the Elderly Methodist Woman

It is no accident that the greatest Catholic reform in centuries - Vatican II - occurred after a half-century of intense Protestant ecumenism. I wonder: To which Protestants’ prayers was Vatican II the answer? I’d like to think that Vatican II was the Lord’s answer to the prayers of an elderly Methodist woman worried about her Catholic grandchildren.

Source: Peter Leithart - "Protest into Prayer", First Things Blog, 2 May 2014, https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2014/05/prayers-for-protestants

Police Chief Louis Dekmar

Callaway's lynching lived in whispers among African-Americans of that era. As they passed on, in the absence of official records, media accounts or a gravestone, Callaway faded from the town's collective memory.
Almost no one in LaGrange today knew Austin Callaway's name until recently -- not his descendants, not the local NAACP president, not the mayor, not even Police Chief Louis Dekmar.

As the chief learned more about the lynching, he came to understand how it strained relations between his force and the African-American community. He decided it was time to apologize for law enforcement's role and acknowledge its impact on community relations.

"The past shapes the present," he said in an interview before the event.

Source: Police Chief Louis Dekmar - Louis Dekmar, Police Chief of LaGrange Georgia, as quoted in "'Justice failed Austin Callaway': Town attempts to atone for 1940 lynching", Emanuella Grinberg, CNN, 28 Jan 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/us/lagrange-georgia-callaway-1940-lynching/index.html

Belfast

After our Ecumenical Ash Wednesday service (a first for Belfast), I can't help but think of that line from the film, Field of Dreams...'If you build it, he (they) will come.' We didn't know how many people would come and nor was it a factor in our coming together, but approximately 200 people showed up with humble penitent hearts and a hunger for God. The Spirit is at work in our city. Yet another sign of the kingdom of God in our midst.

Source: Robin Waugh - As posted on Martin Magill's FB page, Ash Wednesday 2020

Max Josef Metzger

Max Josef Metzger
Priest and Martyr (1887–1944)

Max Metzger, who was born in a small German village, was ordained as a priest shortly before the outbreak of World War I. His experience at the front, serving as an army chaplain, inspired a deep revulsion for war and a determination to devote himself to the cause of peace and reconciliation.

After the war he founded the World Congress of Christ the King, a movement dedicated to Christian unity and international peace. He was also an early pioneer in the ecumenical movement, working to promote dialogue between Catholics and Protestants in a movement called Una Sancta.

With the rise of the Nazis, Metzger came into regular conflict with the state. Beginning in January 1934 he was repeatedly arrested, but in each case the Gestapo failed to charge him. Finally, in June 1943, after the interception of secret letters he had written to foreign bishops, he was charged with treason and sentenced to death. He responded with disdain: “I knew there was no shame, only honor, in being declared dishonorable by such a court.”

On April 17, 1944, after spending most of a year in jail, much of it in irons, he was told to prepare himself for death. Kneeling to pray, he said, “Now, Lord Jesus, I come quickly.” He then walked calmly to the guillotine.

“I have offered my life to God for the peace of the world and the unity of the church. If God takes it I will be happy; if He grants me a still longer life I will also be thankful. As God wills!”

Source: Author Unknown - Posted by Michael Tessman on Greg Metzger's FB page, 18 Apr 2020

Catholic/Lutheran Dialogue

Thank you Stephen. I think the Catholic/Lutheran dialogue for unity is a wonderful model for listening and growing into unity not by compromising but rather but seeking reconciled unity, which allows for the honest tension of “unity in diversity.” The U.S. government once encouraged this process but money, partisanship and power have helped to break it all down.

Source: John Armstrong - Response to an online comment to "America Divided: Why Christian Unity Matters More Than Ever", 28 Feb 2017, http://johnharmstrong.com/america-divided-why-christian-unity-matters-more-than-ever/

A Cardinal Honors Anabaptists

Reflecting upon the Acts of the Apostles during paschaltide is an examination of conscience to see if we are loyal to the characteristics of our first-generation Christian ancestors.

If we’re lucky, we have attractive models today who base their daily lives on the gospel and the paradigm of the Acts of the Apostles.

We here in the archdiocese are indeed so fortunate, as we enjoy friendship with such a remarkable community, the Bruderhof.

And, these Easter days, we are particularly united with them as they commend their Senior Elder, Pastor Johann Christoph Arnold, to eternity.

Source: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan - "Radical Discipleship Lived in Our Midst", Catholic New York, 27 April 2017, http://www.cny.org/stories/radical-discipleship-lived-in-our-midst,15453

Harder In Practice Than Theory

Forgiveness is harder in practice than in theory.

Authentic forgiveness is a hard business, as any crime and justice reporter trying to fashion an article on the topic will confirm.

The exceptional instance of a victim truly forgiving a criminal is tough to find and then evaluate by conventional journalistic standards. And even those opportunities come along only a few times in a reporter’s career.

Source: Mark Morris - "Forgiveness is Harder in Practice than in Theory," Mark Morris, The Kansas City Star, 1 March 2015, http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/local-columnists/article11877386.html#storylink=cpy

Jemar Tisby

First, I believe in the church. I will not break fellowship with her or any of her people based on politics. Jesus Christ himself prayed for the unity of believers. “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11b). Christ wants his church to be unified, so it is in the name of Christian unity that I must speak honestly.

Source: Jemar Tisby - "Trump's Election and Feeling 'Safe' in White Evangelical Churches", Reformed African American Network, 18 Nov 2016, https://www.raanetwork.org/trumps-election-feeling-safe-white-evangelical-churches/

I Had Failed

I started asking God for a repentant heart. And God, who answers prayer, responded. Shipwrecked on the rocks of a difficult relationship, I had to face reality. I had failed. I was incapable of truly loving someone who made life hard for me. God convicted me of my sin and gave me a contrite heart.

Source: M. Basilea Schlink - Repentance: The Joy-Filled Life, p. 16