2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

New wine is poured into fresh wineskins.

Today begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and today’s Gospel (Mark 2:18-22) reading certainly is appropriate.

Jesus wanted to show the people that he was doing something new and exciting, even though it didn’t fit what many of his fellow Jews were expecting. Surely many people wondered who this upstart was and why he wanted to upset the status quo. But Jesus simply continued preaching the good news, healing the sick, and delivering the oppressed.

Jesus wasn’t trying to upset anyone by breaking with the practice of rigorous fasting that was common among the more devoted Jews. No, he was demonstrating what life should be like now that he, “the bridegroom,” had come and ushered in the kingdom of God (Mark 2:19). Sure, it seemed risky not to rely so much on practices like fasting. Many people preferred to stick with the “safe” way they had learned from their ancestors. Better that than take a chance on an uncharted path in the hopes of deeper faith and greater intimacy with God.

In a similar way, God has been doing something new in the body of Christ: he has been drawing together divided churches and helping them overcome painful, centuries-old prejudices. Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists have come to agreement on the term “justification by faith.” Orthodox and Catholics are talking together about the role of the pope. Even Catholics and Evangelicals are putting aside their suspicions and working together to promote a culture of life. So much is changing, and God is inviting us to embrace these changes as part of his plan.

As Christians, we may still disagree on doctrines like the papacy and the role of Mary. But we all agree on so many more: a loving, Trinitarian God; salvation in Christ; the gift of the Holy Spirit; the call to conversion and baptism; and the promise of heaven. Instead of emphasizing what divides us, let’s focus on what we have in common.

All this week, as people from different churches pray together, let’s ask the Lord to soften our hearts and open us up to this new path of greater unity.

“Lord, make us one!”

Hebrews 5:1-10
Psalm 110:1-4
Mark 2:18-22

WORD AMONG US