Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 5: The Holy Spirit, breath of God.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

Introduction

At the heart of our reflections for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
is the question posed by Jesus to Martha: ‘Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26).

This same question resonated throughout the deliberations of the first Ecumenical
Council, meeting in Nicaea in 325, which gathered Christian communities from
around the world to strengthen their relationships as the Church of Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on these moments we are reminded that the gift of our faith brings
both support and challenge.

This year the ecumenical celebration has been prepared by the community of Bose,
an ecumenical monastery of brothers and sisters in northern Italy. In Bose, community life
is shaped by the rhythm of regular prayer. As the bells call the sisters, brothers and guests to prayer,
they all assemble at the church.

As we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, this material has at its heart,
the Nicene Creed.

Day 1: The fatherhood and motherhood of God who rules the universe.
Day 2: Creation as God’s work.
Day 3: The Incarnation of the Son.
Day 4: The Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Day 5: The Holy Spirit, breath of God.
Day 6: The Church: Community of believers.
Day 7: Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of the Lord.
Day 8: Waiting for the Kingdom.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Day 5: The Holy Spirit, breath of God.

Prayer

God, Giver of Life, Light of the World, Breath of Heaven,
the one God three times holy –
Blessed are you past, present and future.
We confess our common faith in you.
Let us rejoice in the Spirit, who renews the face of the earth
and draws us towards unity.
Forgive us when our breath is distasteful.
Enflame us with your Pentecost fire,
to speak the truth of the gospel that brings freedom and life.
Awaken our prayers and give them flesh
as we work with you, to make well and full,
the whole of creation.

God of our journeyings,
Christ of our shorelines,
Spirit of endless horizons,
beckon us towards unity.
Challenge us to step out of our upper rooms and safe spaces,
to be bringers of light and peace.
Imbue us with the light of your love, reconciling us
to ourselves, to each other and to you
when we confront the scandal of division.

Readings:
Isaiah 2:2-4
Psalm 133
Ephesians 4:1-6