When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
(New Revised Standard Version)
Over the centuries divisions between different parts of Christendom have been extensive, and I have not, for instance, managed to look at the split between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church who broke away from the Catholic Church a thousand years ago. Instead I have concentrated on the rift that occurred in the 16th century at the 'Reformation'. But moves towards reconciling the Reformed and the Roman Catholic churches have been made, and various issues identified. In 1999, for instance, a joint declaration by the Roman Catholic Church and World Lutheran Federation established broad agreement on the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins. While some years later, on the year of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Church of England's General Synod commented that "though there were issues still dividing them, there were signs of movement on some key issues."
One highly significant event took place in January 2024. An Anglican Evensong was held in St Peter's Basilica in Rome during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and a theme for the year was introduced at the service supported by the World Council of Churches: - “You shall love the Lord your God . . . and your neighbour as yourself.” Those present who included many denominations from around the world agreed that the theme should remain as "their Christian compass throughout 2024".
The juggernaut of reconciliation moves very slowly, but it does move. Might we pray for its continuance in this year of 2025, and may we all make a conscious decision to reach out the hand of friendship to someone who belongs to a totally different denomination. We may find we have so much in common!
Loving God and Father of all peoples,
both near and far,
we ask your forgiveness for our prejudices
against those whom we see as different to ourselves.
Help us to recognise Your presence
in our brothers and sisters in Christ,
seeing others as fellow travellers on our journey together,
and as disciples of our risen Lord Jesus.
As we focus our eyes on You,
help us to make time to listen to Your voice,
and have the courage to follow where You may lead.
May we draw closer to You, and closer to each other.
Amen.
(from Church in Wales)
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