Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18–25 January2022
Guided by the Star, united in Christ
We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him.
(Mt 2:2)
Every year after Christmas, we are invited to dedicate a week to foster unity among Christians. This year, from January 18 to the 25th, all Christians will gather together to pray. As we celebrate together our faith during this week, it will be the Magi who will serve as our inspiration.
The Magi symbolize the world’s diversity. They profess different religions and belong to different cultures who paid homage to the baby Jesus. Why is their diversity not an obstacle for them to bond together and pay tribute to the little Jesus? The reason is clear: They were driven by the same hunger to see the new-born King so they can worship him with diverse offerings of gold, myrrh and frankincense. They did everything together – going to Herod’s palace to inquire of Jesus whereabouts; travelling to Bethlehem guided by the Star; spending precious moments in adoration of the baby Jesus; and continuing to journey after leaving Bethlehem. United by the singular purpose to worship the new-born King, they were able to face difficulties and obstacles along the way. They were even united in obeying the Angel’s advice not to go back to Herod after finding Jesus.
Like the Magi, we are called to find ways to walk together, to express our love for one another which is the one reason why Christ came into our world. Like the Magi, we have the possibility of discovering the beauty of unity in purpose as we seek to conquer division and all forms of inequalities pervasive in our world today. Like Christ’s coming, we can become a sign of hope and a light that shines amidst darkness.
Guided by the Star, all of us today face the pressing need of seeking the new-born King of gentleness, peace, love and forgiveness. As members of the Church that Jesus founded, we are challenged to reach out and become a force towards unity. As St. Francis-inspired church hymn echoes, we should be channels of peace and where there is hatred, we should sow love.
The Covid-19 global pandemic has brought the world to its knees with the multiple problems it created affecting humanity. While the pandemic brought unwelcome problems, it also made us realize we are not that self-sufficient after all; that the ways we live our lives need a re-set; that the values we hold dear need to be re-evaluated and changed, as needed.
We cannot continue walking the path of advancing self-interest while our fellow human beings are suffering. We cannot continue enjoying the bounties our earth provides while destroying it at the same time. We cannot remain indifferent to the killing of the unborn and those who are no longer “useful” to our societies. After all, we are all members of one human family created by one God who loves us enough that He assumed our humanity more than 2,000 years ago as the baby Jesus.
In this fragile and uncertain world, we can be like the Magi who joined together in search of the source of light and hope – Jesus Christ. This time, we can offer our gift of unity in our effort to reflect the same light and hope that our troubled world sorely needs today.
May the Star who guided the Magi in their journey also guide all Christians in their united mission to proclaim the love of God.
Fr. Alex, sx
