THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER, MAY 20, 2021

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Jn 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

“I pray not only for these,

but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

so that they may all be one,

as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

that they also may be in us,

that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me,

so that they may be one, as we are one,

I in them and you in me,

that they may be brought to perfection as one,

that the world may know that you sent me,

and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

I wish that where I am they also may be with me,

that they may see my glory that you gave me,

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,

but I know you, and they know that you sent me.

I made known to them your name and I will make it known,

that the love with which you loved me

may be in them and I in them.”

REFLECTION:

"I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you"

All the readings and Gospels this week bring us closer to the end or Easter. Not to a sad time, but to the coming of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit.

In this Gospel, Jesus calls for unity, to be one in Him, as He is one with the Father.

Many people claim this passage for Ecumenism. What is Ecumenism?

Is it okay to get many people of different faiths to pray together for peace? Of course it is.

Is it okay to meet with people of other faiths, but not mention Jesus or God the Father because that is not their faith?... that is the sticky wicket.

Pope St. John Paull II wrote the Encyclical UT UNUM SINT, or On commitment to Ecumenism in 1995. In this document His Holiness clarifies what Ecumenism truly is, and gives us good resources on how to address this term that many times has been hijacked by people that don't necessarily have the good of the Church in mind.

Here are some points of this encyclical:

* St. John Paul II calls for a change of language and of attitudes, from condemnation to mutual forgiveness

* The primacy of prayer. When Christians pray together, the goal of unity seems closer

* Prayer, the community at prayer, enables us always to discover anew the evangelical truth of the words: "You have one Father"

* Create true dialogue and cooperation. A dialogue of doctrine is a dialogue of love.

* A common commitment to freedom, justice, peace.

* The relationship between Sacred Scripture, as the highest authority in matters of faith, and Sacred Tradition, as indispensable to the interpretation of the Word of God;

* The Eucharist, as the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, an offering of praise to the Father, the sacrificial memorial and Real Presence of Christ and the sanctifying outpouring of the Holy Spirit;

* Ordination, as a Sacrament, to the threefold ministry of the episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate;

* The Magisterium of the Church, entrusted to the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him, understood as a responsibility and an authority exercised in the name of Christ for teaching and safeguarding the faith;

* The Virgin Mary, as Mother of God and Icon of the Church, the spiritual Mother who intercedes for Christ's disciples and for all humanity.

The Church also takes into account local customs and traditions. In the past, Saints Cyril and Methodius helped create a bridge between the Byzantine and the Roman Catholic Tradition. As of lately, we have the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, where priests and laypeople from an Anglican background are allowed to retain elements of their Anglican patrimony after entering the Catholic Church

On the other hand, we have the German Bishops, headed by Georg Bätzing, who in the name of Ecumenism have proclaimed that they will not deny Holy Communion to any protestant that requests it. This has been met with open criticism from many members of the Church. This is not a new attitude by Bishop Bätzing, and it prompted an intervention by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2020.

This is yet one more reason to pray for our priests, our Bishops, and the Holy Father. So true dialogue and unity are established with all our brothers and sisters. A dialogue that will not disrespect and minimize He who has called us to be one with Him.

Pray with us daily the PAPA Prayer for Priests, so they are always close to God, and many people see in them the face of Jesus, and long to be one with Him.

God bless y'all!