An 8 day reflection for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Today marks the beginning of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  This year the prayers come to us from Christians in Jerusalem, who challenge us to embrace the ideal of the early Church. We are invited to reflect and make concrete in our lives Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.’ 

The Catholic Church is one - United under One Head. 
A Divine Mandate: In the opening chapters of Acts we find St. Peter  taking a position of authority. In Acts 1:15-22 he moves the other apostles to elect a replacement for Judas; in Acts 2:14-47 it is Peter that addresses the crowd after the Descent of the Holy Spirit; in chapter 3, after healing the crippled man, and though John was present, it is Peter that calls the crowd to repentance, and again it is Peter who speaks on behalf of Christ to the Sanhedrin in chapter 4. Peter also oversees other aspects of the community. In chapter 5 he oversees the collection of goods for the poor, etc.  At the Council of Jerusalem (Chapter 15), Peter proclaims the final decision regarding the circumcision of the Gentiles, and it is James – bishop of Jerusalem – to suggest its practical application for the people. Once again, the cycle of Pope, Bishop, Presbyters, and Laity is upheld. 

            So, this idea of authority and the submission that comes with it is not new to the Church.  In every instance that Peter steps forward, even where not explicitly stated, it stands to reason that many more stepped aside to listen, learn, and obey. However, it is important to note that while authority is clearly given to Peter, who then turns and gives it to the Bishops, etc… it is not a tyrannical oppression of ideas and practices.

            St. Paul gives us the greatest example of how to be united under this one head in a manner at once zealous, humble, and filial. Paul had authority directly from Christ (Acts 9:1-22), but he knew the essential need for unity in the Body of Christ. When decisions needed to be made, St. Paul approached Peter and the others. Together they discerned the right course of action. And yet, in all of this, when St. Paul was aware that there was division in the Church – even though it was being caused in part by Peter himself – he boldly and clearly denounced the root of the problem and urged Peter to quit causing public scandal. This is charity at its finest. How can we know that Paul was motivated properly? Because following this episode (told in Galatians) and seeing the division in the Church over it, Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem – not to solve the problem themselves – but to present it to the Church’s authority on earth: Peter himself, and the other apostles and presbyters.

            Following the example of Peter, James, Paul, and the laity of the early Church we work to help and support those in authority through prayer, action, and even counsel. We obey them, finally, because they are God’s servants on earth and it is only through unity in the Church that the world will know that Christ is indeed present.

(Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata)



Day 1 We pray for the Church in Jerusalem. It "sets forth the background to the mother church of Jerusalem, making clear its continuity with the church throughout the world today. It reminds us of the courage of the early church as it boldly witnessed to the truth, just as we today need to work for justice in Jerusalem, and in the rest of the world."
(http://www.vatican.va/)