This week, I found it very helpful to learn about the history and contexts of the divisions in the Church. Day 1 framed the problem of division from a mission standpoint; according to Fr. Jim, “The mission of the Gospel is diminished by our own divisions within Christianity.” This is the problem addressed by the ecumenical movement.
The cause of division tends to be our own human weakness. It doesn’t primarily stem from diversity or disagreement, but pride, anger, selfishness, misunderstanding, even imprudence. Martin Luther was motivated to call out the Catholic Church because they were greedily promoting the sale of indulgences; the Catholic Church was too slow in responding to the reformers (imprudence is not just acting too hastily, but also acting too slowly); and so on.
I deeply appreciate Fr Jim’s response towards what we have to do to work towards unity: love. Love cannot be emphasized enough. Considering the idea that the cause of division is usually human weakness, we need more virtue in general.
The concept of reconciliation has made me think about reconciliation within family structures (this is the Psychospiritual Studies student in me now!). More often than not, families have divisions within them. Families are full of conflicts that are not likely to be overcome by one party simply conceding to the other. (As a simple example, teens and parents often don’t see eye to eye, and they either have long back-and-forth arguments or just shut each other out.) Instead, the path toward reconciliation between family members is usually compromise or “agreeing to disagree.” For some families, this leads to less dialogue about the points of contention, but this isn’t necessarily a healthy path. This is also not the path the Church plans on taking either; Bishop Brian Farrell said today, “We really have to face the question of difference,” and “Can we incorporate difference in a legitimate way?” So it won’t always be enough to “put aside our differences” by way of simply not talking about them; these differences must remain at the forefront of the conversation. What seems healthier within a family structure is to accept one another, fully aware of differences, and to stand together as a team. As Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” The unity of the household must be the priority.
And if family members can dialogue about their differences in a healthy way, with openness, charity, humility, and love, it makes way for understanding, togetherness, and stronger unity. As it is said, communication is key! Without communication, there is no relationship. Furthermore, through communication, differences once thought to be irreconcilable may turn out to be reconcilable. Perhaps the family members’ varying perspectives, when put together like a puzzle, can shed light on the full truth.
It is not unreasonable to think, then, that through dialogue, the one truth that the different Christian denominations are all journeying towards will be made clear.
I think what I’m trying to say here is that, for the body of Christ, relationship through dialogue will lead all of us to the truth. (To make myself more clear, I don’t believe in subjective truth.) And: ecumenism begins with unity and ends with unity.
I am happy to hear how much the ecumenical movement is turning the tide on how different denominations view one another. Certainly, there is much less demonizing of one another on an institutional level, but in the spaces I occupy, there is much to be done about the hostility and suspicion that everyday Christians hold towards one another. I see it on the campus I work at, within online Christian communities, and among peers, friends, and family members. I hope that Church institutions can set a strong example of unity, relationship, and dialogue so that all Christians will be more respectful of one another so that their witness will be strong in an already divided world.
I still have many questions, especially, as I mentioned at dinner last night, on the topic of evangelization from a Catholic perspective. What does it look like for individuals to live out the missions of both evangelization and ecumenism? Would we be limited only to evangelizing ecumenically—that is, preaching the Christian Gospel, but not necessarily the Catholic Gospel? Or do these missions remain separate? Hopefully I will have a chance to ask these kinds of questions during our July 2 visit to the Dicasteries. I’m curious about their interactions with the Dicastery for Evangelization, whether they collaborate, and if so, to what extent.
The cause of division tends to be our own human weakness. It doesn’t primarily stem from diversity or disagreement, but pride, anger, selfishness, misunderstanding, even imprudence. Martin Luther was motivated to call out the Catholic Church because they were greedily promoting the sale of indulgences; the Catholic Church was too slow in responding to the reformers (imprudence is not just acting too hastily, but also acting too slowly); and so on.
I deeply appreciate Fr Jim’s response towards what we have to do to work towards unity: love. Love cannot be emphasized enough. Considering the idea that the cause of division is usually human weakness, we need more virtue in general.
The concept of reconciliation has made me think about reconciliation within family structures (this is the Psychospiritual Studies student in me now!). More often than not, families have divisions within them. Families are full of conflicts that are not likely to be overcome by one party simply conceding to the other. (As a simple example, teens and parents often don’t see eye to eye, and they either have long back-and-forth arguments or just shut each other out.) Instead, the path toward reconciliation between family members is usually compromise or “agreeing to disagree.” For some families, this leads to less dialogue about the points of contention, but this isn’t necessarily a healthy path. This is also not the path the Church plans on taking either; Bishop Brian Farrell said today, “We really have to face the question of difference,” and “Can we incorporate difference in a legitimate way?” So it won’t always be enough to “put aside our differences” by way of simply not talking about them; these differences must remain at the forefront of the conversation. What seems healthier within a family structure is to accept one another, fully aware of differences, and to stand together as a team. As Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” The unity of the household must be the priority.
And if family members can dialogue about their differences in a healthy way, with openness, charity, humility, and love, it makes way for understanding, togetherness, and stronger unity. As it is said, communication is key! Without communication, there is no relationship. Furthermore, through communication, differences once thought to be irreconcilable may turn out to be reconcilable. Perhaps the family members’ varying perspectives, when put together like a puzzle, can shed light on the full truth.
It is not unreasonable to think, then, that through dialogue, the one truth that the different Christian denominations are all journeying towards will be made clear.
I think what I’m trying to say here is that, for the body of Christ, relationship through dialogue will lead all of us to the truth. (To make myself more clear, I don’t believe in subjective truth.) And: ecumenism begins with unity and ends with unity.
I am happy to hear how much the ecumenical movement is turning the tide on how different denominations view one another. Certainly, there is much less demonizing of one another on an institutional level, but in the spaces I occupy, there is much to be done about the hostility and suspicion that everyday Christians hold towards one another. I see it on the campus I work at, within online Christian communities, and among peers, friends, and family members. I hope that Church institutions can set a strong example of unity, relationship, and dialogue so that all Christians will be more respectful of one another so that their witness will be strong in an already divided world.
I still have many questions, especially, as I mentioned at dinner last night, on the topic of evangelization from a Catholic perspective. What does it look like for individuals to live out the missions of both evangelization and ecumenism? Would we be limited only to evangelizing ecumenically—that is, preaching the Christian Gospel, but not necessarily the Catholic Gospel? Or do these missions remain separate? Hopefully I will have a chance to ask these kinds of questions during our July 2 visit to the Dicasteries. I’m curious about their interactions with the Dicastery for Evangelization, whether they collaborate, and if so, to what extent.
The one Holy Spirit, who unites us all!
-Marie
Comments
Post a Comment