Christian unity – Day 5 – Missionaries of Africa

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 5 - Strength: Breaking bread for the journey

Acts 27:33-36

“Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.’After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.”

Reflection

Paul’s invitation to eat is an exhortation to those in the boat to strengthen themselves for what lies ahead. This taking of bread marks a change of attitude, as those in the boat move from despair to courage. In a similar way the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper provides us with food for the journey and re-orientates us to life in God. We are made strong. The breaking of the bread – at the core of Christian community life and worship – builds us up as we commit ourselves to Christian service. We long for the day when all Christians will be able to share at the same table of the Lord’s Supper and draw strength from one bread and one cup.

Prayer

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ

broke bread and shared the cup

with his friends on the eve of his passion.

May we grow together in closer communion.

Following the example of Paul and the early Christians,

give us strength to build bridges

of compassion, solidarity and harmony.

In the power of the Holy Spirit,

we ask this in the name of your Son,

who gives his life that we might live.

Amen.

Day 4 - Trust: Do not be afraid, believe

Acts 27:23-26

“For the last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.”

Cette nuit même, en effet, un ange d

u

Dieu auquel j’appartiens et que je sers s’est présenté à moi et m’a dit

: ‘Sois

sans crainte, Paul

; il faut que tu comparaisses devant l’empereur et Dieu t’accorde aussi la vie de tous tes compagnons

de traversée

!’ Courage, donc, mes amis

! Je fais conf

iance à Dieu

: il en sera comme il m’a dit. Nous devons échouer

sur une île

».

Reflection

In the midst of the tempest Paul’s encouragement and hope contradicted the fear and despair of his fellow travellers. Our common call to be disciples of Jesus Christ entails being a sign of contradiction. In a world riven with anxieties, we are called to stand as witnesses to hope by placing our trust in God’s loving providence. Christian experience shows us that God writes straight on crooked lines, and we know, against all odds, we will not drown or be lost. Because God’s steadfast love endures for ever.

Prayer

Almighty God,

our personal suffering leads us to cry out in pain

and we shrink in fear when we experience sickness,

anxiety or the death of loved ones.

Teach us to trust you.

May the churches we belong to be signs of your providential care.

Make us true disciples of your Son

who taught us to listen to your word

and to serve one another.

In confidence we ask this in the name of your Son,

and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Day 3 - Hope: Paul’s message

Acts 27:22 ; 34

“I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship… none of you will lose a hair from your heads…”

Reflection

As Christians belonging to churches and traditions that are not fully reconciled to one another, we are often discouraged by the lack of progress towards visible unity. Indeed, some have given up all hope and see this unity as an unattainable ideal. Others do noteven see unity as a necessary part of their Christian faith. As we pray for this gift of visible unity, let us do so with steadfast faith, enduring patience and expectant hope, trusting in God’s loving providence. Unity is the Lord’s prayer for the Church and he is accompanying us on this journey. We will not be lost.

Prayer

God of mercy,

lost and disheartened, we turn to you.

Instil in us your gift of hope.

May our churches hope and strive

for the unity for which your Son prayed

on the eve of his passion.

We ask this through him

who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.

Day 2 - Enlightenment: Seeking and showing forth Christ’s light

Actes 27,20

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Reflection

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearfuland divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer

God, your word is alight to our steps

and without you we are lost and disorientated.

Enlighten us so that, through your word,

we may walk your path.

May our churches crave your guiding,

consoling and transforming presence.

Give us the honesty we need to recognize

when we make it difficult for others to see your light,

and the grace we need to share your light with others.

We ask this in the name of your Son,

who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world.

Amen.

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer

Forgiving God,

set us free from the painful memories of the past,

that wound our shared Christian life.

Lead us to reconciliation so that,

through the Holy Spirit,

we may overcome hatred with love,

anger with gentleness

and suspicion with trust.

We ask this in the name

of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.

Amen.