My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which began Jan. 18 and concludes Jan. 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, has as its theme, “Open Our Ears and Loosen Our Tongues” (Mark 7: 31-37).

The Second Vatican Council had as one of its goals better ecumenical relationships. At a recent meeting of members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Council, gave an overview of the current ecumenical situation, which is worth reviewing during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

There are some who believe that ecumenism is at a standstill, or even that an “ecumenical Ice Age” has begun, given the difficulty of dialogue.  In addition, some believe dialogue means giving up one’s own position and finding the lowest common denominator on which we can agree.  Cardinal Kasper clearly rejects this notion and holds great hope for the future of ecumenism in the Christian world.  There is a difference between interreligious dialogue with other religions and ecumenical dialogue, which takes place among Christians. 

Ecumenism is in a period of transition.  Long gone are the days when Christians considered other Christians opponents or rivals; now we see ourselves more and more as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.  The scandal of Christian disunity hinders the work of Christianity in the world today, especially in the area of evangelization, where competing interests can sometimes dilute the preaching of the Gospel.

What has changed recently is the new approach to the question of individual identity.  Dialogue is an exercise in understanding oneself and being able to communicate with another.  Many fear dialogue because they believe that somehow they will lose their own identity because of underlying suspicion.  Only in an atmosphere of trust, however, can true dialogue take place among Christians.  Pope John Paul II described dialogue as an exchange of gifts, and as Cardinal Kasper said:  “Dialogue is not intended to impoverish, it can and will enrich.”  How important it is for us to see dialogue in this way, especially as we observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

In regard to identity, Cardinal Kasper said:  “The stress on individual identity or the ecumenism of profiles can be called ecumenically legitimate and even constructive (a) when it defines the existing differences on the basis and within the framework of a wider common faith; and (b) when this does not occur with the aim of establishing barriers or raising one’s own profile, but rather in an endeavor to overcome the differences in a truth-oriented dialogue.”  Truth can be the only basis on which ecumenical progress can be made, but first one must find the truth of the Gospel and live it and witness to it so the dialogue can become more effective.     

Unfortunately, today it is not possible to dialogue with all Christian ecclesial communities.  Evangelicals and Pentecostals most particularly pose challenges since some are not open to dialogue, but rather take antagonistic positions regarding ecumenical work.  It is exactly for this then we must pray, that we can engage our Christian brothers and sisters in a fruitful dialogue based on mutual respect and acceptance.  As we survey the current scene, we must heed the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, who in John’s Gospel prays “that all may be one” (John 17:20-26).  This was His fervent prayer at the Last Supper when He established the Sacrament of Unity, the Eucharist.

Although few are able to be in direct dialogue with other Christian churches, all of us know other Christians.  Most important is witness to the faith, mutual respect and prayer for other Christians since we are all one in Jesus Christ, yet not all one in one Church.

Ecumenism is always a step to put out into the deep because reaching out to others in dialogue demands leaving our comfortable positions to understand the position of others so that we might find the truth together.  Join me in praying each day that the unity Christ desired will one day be restored. 

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