Building bridges

Podcast

• Listen to this homily

Scripture references

• Jeremiah 1:4-5; 17-19
• 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
• Luke 4:21-30

Reflection

This past week, the Church throughout the world has observed a special period of prayer for the promotion of unity among Christians.  This annual occurrence provides us with a chance to celebrate the many strides that have been accomplished in recognizing the similarities between the many Christian traditions of our time, but it also challenges us to look honestly at the divisions that still exist between ourselves and others who follow different paths in their quest to be disciples of Jesus.

Working toward the restoration of unity among the fractured Christian Churches has been ongoing ever since the time that the divisions first occurred.  In order for true unity to be re-established, popes, bishops and other people of good will who have been entrusted with various levels of leadership must sit together and engage in honest dialogue about the possibilities that can become reality.  This is a process that is ongoing, and there are signs of progress to be found along the way, but you and I can also do our part to promote dialogue if we are willing to step outside our own comfort zones, outside the walls of our churches, and to invite dialogue with the folks who are our next door neighbours, our coworkers, in some cases our own family members and friends.

When Jesus returned to his family and friends, and presented himself in the synagogue where he had been introduced to the ways of faith, there were many others who were excited to hear what he had to say.  They had no doubt learned about the miracles he had been accomplishing in other places, and perhaps they even hoped that even greater things would be done for them.  After all, they were the ones who knew him from the time of his childhood (Lk 4:22), but Jesus couldn't or wouldn't do as they expected, because while they remembered him as a boy, and knew of his human lineage, they couldn't or wouldn't see past the externals to believe that he was the Son of God.

Family circles, sports teams, bargaining units and even the Church are all examples of various groupings of individuals who have the potential to be formidable forces, but these are also examples of groups who can bring great division if their members can't somehow develop the skill to look beyond the limits of egotism in order to discover and establish the boundaries and rules that allow us to function in the most advantageous way.  Anyone who has had experience with the diplomacy of negotiation will tell you that brokering agreements can at times be very delicate work.  Finding the common ground that exists between parties who are in disagreement calls for courage and conviction (Jer 1:17) as well as an unflagging belief that it is possible to re-establish some semblance of agreement.

Is it possible that efforts such as a week of prayer for Christian unity can indeed bear fruit?  It is if we are all willing to put down the weapons of our prejudices, if we are all willing to look honestly at our own situations, to recognize the values and beliefs that we hold most dear, and the things about our behavior toward others that we are able and willing to change.  This is hard work, but it is necessary if we human beings who call ourselves disciples of Jesus truly want to walk in his footsteps.

What, you may ask, are the tools of the trade that we must use to walk this path?  Love that is patient, love that teaches us to be kind to one another, love that is able to set aside envy, boastfulness and arrogance.  Love that does not always insist on having its own way, love that does not get irritated or resentful at the first sign of trouble, love that rejoices in truth, love that can bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things.  Love that knows no limits (1 Cor 13:4-8).