Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Jan 18-25
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Introduction
Each year, Christians around the world joyfully recall the prayer of Jesus in the
Gospel of John, 17:21, “That they all may be one.” This prayer bears witness to the communion of the Blessed Trinity within the Godhead as extending to the grace of unity and peace among those joined to Christ in baptism. This grace fulfills the mystery of unity in the Holy Spirit among all who bear the name Christian.The Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, conceived by Servant of God Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, in partnership with the Reverend Spencer Jones of the Church of England, was first observed in the United States January 18-25, 1908 at Graymoor in Garrison, NY by the little Episcopal Franciscan religious community of Sisters and Friars called the Society of the Atonement. Fr. Paul had joined with Mother Lurana White, SA in founding the Society of friars and sisters in 1898. The little group of Franciscans believed strongly that they were called into existence to re-establish unity within the Church. After good and difficult times and experiences, the Holy Spirit led the Society into the Catholic Church in 1909.
The Octave and its reliance on prayer for unity were welcomed wholeheartedly by the Catholic Church and observance grew rapidly. It was at the conclusion of what became known as the Chair of Unity Octave on January 25, 1959, that Pope St. John XIII called for Vatican Council II. At the same time in the 20th century, similar Weeks of Prayer established by Catholics and Orthodox Christians in France as well as Reform Churches in Switzerland worked together on observances from January 18-25, based on the concept of praying for the unity of the Church, “as Christ wills it.” With the birth of the World Council of Churches in 1948, it became a firm part of the Christian Calendar in the West.
The streams came together after Vatican Council II. Since 1968, a joint commission of the WCC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has settled on an annual scriptural theme produced by ecumenical groups in various countries. The theme for 2022 comes from the Middle East Council of Churches, with most of the input from the Christians of Lebanon. “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him.” (Cf. MT 2:2)
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2023 Theme
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Biblical Text
Isaiah 1:12-18
When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation — I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Prayer Card
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Discussion
Isaiah challenged God’s people in his day to learn to do good together; to seek justice together, to rescue the oppressed together, to defend the orphan and plead for the widow together. The prophet’s challenge applies equally to us today. How can we live our unity as Christians so as to confront the evils and injustices of our time? How can we engage in dialogue, increase awareness, understanding and insight about one another’s lived experiences? These prayers and encounters of the heart have the power to transform us – individually and collectively. Let us be open to God’s presence in all our encounters with each other as we seek to be transformed, to dismantle the systems of oppression, and to heal the sins of racism. Together, let us engage in the struggle for justice in our society. We all belong to Christ.
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Daily Prayers and Meditations
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Click each day for the full reflection
- January 18th - Day 1:
- Isaiah 1:12-18, Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan; plead for the widow
- January 19th - Day 2:
- Proverbs 21:13-15, When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoer
- January 20th - Day 3:
- Micah 6:6-8, And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God
- January 21st - Day 4:
- Ecclesiastes 4:1-5, Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed - with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors, there was power with no one to comfort them.
- January 22nd - Day 5:
- Psalms 137:1-4, For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked us for mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!
- January 23rd - Day 6:
- Ezekiel 34:15-20, I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.
- January 24th - Day 7:
- Job 5:11-16, So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth
- January 25th - Day 8:
- Psalms 82:1-4, Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute
- January 18th - Day 1:
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Photo Albums: Photo Credits- Joe Evans, Parish Photographer
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