Deacon Gary Bockweg's reflection for this Sunday that begins a week in which UNITY is a focal point of three of the days that mark special events in Washington DC that are directly related to all of the nation ... indeed, to the entire Catholic world. A picture Deacon B. provided shows that we can lead humans and animals to "pray."
Brotherhood and Unity.
Those are the overarching hopes for the coming week.
A time to celebrate that we’re truly all brothers and sisters.
A chance to strengthen that unity.
And it’s all centered right here in Washington.
Tomorrow we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King,
Who gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech here on the Mall.
He dedicated his life—and gave his life—
In the cause of racial brotherhood and unity.
He showed us that everyone suffers when there’s prejudice and discrimination.
He showed us that we all need brotherhood and unity.
Tuesday we witness the inauguration of our new president.
Martin Luther King’s lifetime work played no small part in hastening the day
When America could elect a black president.
There was a clever Doonesbury cartoon on that historic milestone.
Soldiers in Iraq are watching the election returns on TV.
When Obama is declared the winner, a black soldier cheers.
And a white soldier says, “What a great day, we did it!”
When others look at him, he says, “He is half-white you know.”
The black soldier answers—“You must be so proud!”
And really, we should be, and we are.
The election has already given us some sign of increased racial brotherhood and unity.
And after so many years of divisiveness and polarization,
We hope now to also see signs of greater brotherhood and unity, greater civility,
Among those with differing ideological and political views.
And our big week still continues after Tuesday.
On Thursday we have the March for Life.
The March might be viewed as a sign of dis-unity—and in a sense it is.
But it’s also an attempt at promoting brotherhood and unity.
It’s a peaceful attempt at fraternal correction.
An attempt to bring the light to those who can’t see it.
In our Gospel today, Jesus is preparing to begin his public ministry.
And the chief message of that ministry is—brotherhood and unity.
He’ll restore that most crucial unity—reuniting man with God.
And he’ll stress that we are all brothers and sisters, and that indeed, he is our brother.
John the Baptist sees Jesus and recognizes him as the messiah.
So he withdraws and steers his supporters to Jesus.
Like a new president, Jesus is organizing his team.
And he chooses one of John’s followers, Andrew.
Andrew immediately recruits his brother, Simon Peter, and brings him to Jesus.
He started with just his natural-born brother.
But soon, both would cast their nets widely
And bring in many thousands of the brothers and sisters they hadn’t known before.
And the number of followers would continue to grow.
Until today when one third of the world’s living population follow Jesus.
We are a billion Catholics who believe that we are united in the mystical body of Christ.
We are two billion Christians who believe that we are brothers and sisters.
And we recognize that non-Christians are also our brothers and sisters.
As we Americans focus on our events of the coming week,
We have great hope for the triumph of brotherhood and unity.
But there’s an even broader, worldwide, movement this week.
This week is Christian Unity Week.
More specifically, a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
While we Christians have much in common, we still have divisions.
And so we’re asked to pray this week.
And each day has been assigned a special focus.
Starting this Sunday with, old and new divisions.
Then war and violence;
Economic injustice and poverty;
Ecological crisis;
Discrimination and social prejudice;
Disease and suffering;
A plurality of religions;
And ending next Sunday with, hope in a world of separation.
As our week unfolds, the scheduled events should provide easy reminders.
They can prompt us to pray for Christian Unity.
And while we’re at it, why not pray for universal brotherhood and unity.
For Christian and non-Christian alike.
The big events of the week will center on special American hopes and heroes.
So we might be excused if we indulge in a little nationalism.
We might well let our pseudo-anthem serve as one of our prayers.
America! America! God shed His grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
