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Often, in a world filled with catastrophes, it can be difficult to believe that God really cares. When His people were in exile, crying bitter tears in Babylon, they felt unsure of His care - until they heard the consoling words of the Prophet Isaiah. 'Comfort, comfort my people', Isaiah announced. Then came God's promise of a pathway in the wilderness, a highway through the desert that would bring His people home, would lead them back, just as they had once been led back from slavery in Egypt. John the Baptist's message - to prepare a pathway for the Lord - would have reminded his hearers of God's great deeds in the past. So they would have understood immediately that God was about to do something great again. That is why they were full of expectancy and were able to recognise the greatness of Jesus, pointed out by John. The events that day were mysterious and awesome; but from them faith was awakened in God's beloved Son, made flesh for us. Luke says that the people had 'a feeling of expectancy' that God would act. And God did act. Is there a message for us there somewhere? God, You are great and caring; fill us with expectancy that You will do great things in our time too. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That Christians may favour the evangelisation of the new generations through the constant search for the unity wanted by Christ.
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The question of full Christian unity and evangelisation led to the beginnings of the ecumenical movement. The Holy Father decries the negative consequences of division among Christians and calls them to search for full Christian Unity as inspired by the Lord's Prayer. As evangelisers we must offer Christ's faithful an image of people who are mature in faith and capable of finding a meeting point beyond all tensions. The destiny of evangelisation is bound up with the witness of unity given to the Church. The urgency of preaching and displaying unity to the world arises from the fact that Christians can impair the vitality of proclaiming the Gospel and even become a scandal to the world, particularly when the churches appear to proclaim "a kingdom against itself". It is clear that the proclamation of the Gospel by divided Christians becomes counter- itness. As Christians we ought to give collaborative common witness which is founded in the common baptism in Christ and faith in the Triune God. Pray for the courage to work positively with other Christians for the purpose of promoting evangelisation. | |
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