Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity • Day 5 • January 22, 2012
.
First Resurrection Appearance
of Jesus to the Disciples, by William Hole
.
Changed
by the peace of the Risen Lord
Readings
Malachi
4:5-6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the
hearts of children to their parents
Psalms
133 How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Ephesians
2:14-20 To reconcile both groups to God in one body, putting to death
hostility
John
20:19-23 Jesus stood among them and said: Peace be with you!
Commentary
The final words of the last book of the Old Testament convey the promise
that God will send his chosen one to establish harmony and respect in all
households. Usually we fear strife between nations or unexpected aggression.
But the prophet Malachi draws attention to one of the most difficult and
enduring conflicts: the heartbreak in relations between parents and their
offspring. This restoration of unity between parents and children is not
possible without God’s help – it is God’s emissary who performs the miracle
of transformation in people’s hearts and relationships.
The psalm shows what great joy such unity among people can bring. The
human person was not created to be alone, and cannot live contentedly in
a hostile atmosphere. Happiness consists in living in a human community
in harmony, peace, trust and understanding. Good relations between people
are as dew upon the dry earth and a fragrant oil which furthers health
and pleasure. The psalm refers to the goodness of living together as a
blessing and undeserved gift from God, like the dew. Living together in
unity is not restricted to family members only – this is rather a declaration
of the closeness between people who accept the peace of God.
The epistle tells us of him whom the prophet Malachi announced. Jesus
brings unity, because he has demolished the wall of hostility between
people in His own body. Generally, a person’s victory involves the downfall
and shame of those who have been defeated, who prefer to withdraw. Jesus
does not reject, or destroy, or humiliate; he puts an end to alienation,
he transforms, heals and unites all, that they may become members of
God’s household.
The gospel recalls the gift of the risen Lord, given to his uncertain
and terrified disciples. Peace be with you – that is Christ’s greeting
and also his gift. It is also an invitation to seek peace with God and
establish new, lasting relationships within the human family and all of
creation. Jesus has trampled down death and sin. By the gift of the Holy
Spirit, the Risen Lord invites his disciples into his mission of bringing
peace, healing and forgiveness to all the world. As long as Christians
remain divided, the world will not be convinced of the full truth of the
Gospel message that Christ has brought about one new humanity. Peace and
unity are the hallmarks of this transformation. The Churches need to appropriate
and witness to these gifts as members of the one household of God built
upon the sure foundation of Jesus as the cornerstone.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your victory over evil and division.
We praise you for your sacrifice and your resurrection that conquer death.
Help us in our everyday struggle against all adversity. May the Holy Spirit
give us strength and wisdom so that, following you, we may overcome evil
with good, and division with reconciliation. Amen.
Family Reflection
You were playing your favorite computer game, when mom, who had been
working in the kitchen, came in and said that grandma had called and needed
some help, and she was going to run out to see her. “Could you finish
the dishes” she asked, since she would have to get straight on with preparing
dinner when she got back she explained. She was clearly very tired. You
said yes, and as she left you walked into the kitchen to find a huge pile
of pots and pans waiting to be cleaned. You decided to run a large bowl
of water to wash them in, and turned the taps on. It was going to take
a few minutes to fill the bowl, and so you ran back to your game in the
other room. 25 minutes later you remembered you had turned the taps on.
You dashed round to the kitchen to see water flowing along the floor into
the hall. At that moment mom walked back into the house and shrieked at
the mess. You tried to explain, but there was nothing to say. She was really
angry and said some things that hurt. You started crying while trying to
explain that you had only been trying to help. You went to your room sad.
Later that day, mum came and apologized to you for what she had said.
You also said sorry for your forgetfulness. It was so good to be back in
good relationship with mum.
What do you think about this story? What difference did it make that
mum apologized to you? God wants us in right relationship with one another
and we need to sort out things that go wrong, asking for-giveness where
we have done and said bad things. Most of all he wants us in good relationship
with Himself and that is what Jesus came to do. |
