Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 6: The Church: Community of believers.

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.

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Day 6: The Church: Community of believers.

Prayer

With gratitude beyond all possible language
we praise you, O Lord, and glorify your name.
For having called us to the trusting of faith in baptism,
for the communion we share in the New Covenant,
for the unity we already enjoy and your presence in the holy Church:
we praise you, O Lord, and glorify your name.

Readings:
Micah 7:18-19
Psalm 51:1, 10, 12
Matthew 28:16-20