ZE090124
ZENIT
The World Seen From Rome
Daily dispatch - January 24, 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
More Lay Saints
The Potential of Life
Prayers for Gaza
Bishops and the Vatican
Google and the Pope
SPIRITUALITY
7th Meditation for Christian Unity Prayer Week
A response to: 11 Near Beatification
It is wonderful to see these religious and one lay person being put forward for beatification, but I find it very disconcerting the dramatic lack of lay people. I am sure there must be an army of lay saints in heaven, but there is precious little interest in them on earth.
Surely this must change.
We need more role models for lay people who we can relate to in respect of marriage, raising children, hard work, family life.
Derek Williams
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response Obama Is Subject of Pro-life Ad
I'm sure we all join President [George] Bush and Senator [John] McCain in their best wishes and prayers for our new president and the success of his administration. But we will hold Barack Obama's feet to the fire in the defense of life, of the life of the innocent, of the vulnerable, of the weakest, of the unborn and the elderly, of immigrants and the poor, of our own and the children of Gaza and the West Bank and Israel, of Iraq and Iran, of Pakistan and Afghanistan, all life, Mr. President, all human life! We have the tools of nonviolence. We are prepared to use them. And if we must, pray God give us the wisdom and the strength to stand up, for we all are called to justice.
Deacon Tom Cornell
Catholic Worker Movement
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Parish Priest Recounts Tragedy of Gaza
This letter is so profoundly moving as to render tears and pain the heart. It is worthy of reading and sharing in parishes for we must pray, do penance and everything physically and spiritually possible for these dear pastors and people in this dire and tragic situation. [...]
I have printed the letter and will keep it in my missal so that, most assuredly, I will not forget to pray at each Mass.
Christine Delaplace
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Cardinal George's Letter to Obama
I believe that in your letter to [President Barack] Obama it needs to some how be stated that the Vatican along with the U.S. episcopal conference supports the fundamental right to life. It is so easy for heresies to get started. I believe that the bishops in the United States need to take extra care in their messages to the people and the media that what they put forth is with the Vatican. [...]
Patty Cronin
email this article | print this article | comment this article
A response to: Google to Team Up With Vatican
That's the best thing I've heard of in a month. What a combination, Google and [Benedict XVI]!
To make accessible to the world the wisdom and study of the Pope and to transmit it to the world -- wow!
Think of the people you'll reach -- millions, billions!
Best Wishes and good luck,
Dr. Phil Scozzaro
email this article | print this article | comment this article
7th Meditation for Christian Unity Prayer Week
"Peoples of the Earth Will Praise God and Rejoice"VATICAN CITY, JAN. 24, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a meditation jointly prepared by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches for the seventh day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The week continues through Sunday, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle. The theme for 2009 is "That They May Become One in Your Hand" (Ezekiel 37:17).
* * *
Day 7
Christians Face-to-Face With a Plurality of Religions
Isaiah 25:6-9 -- "This is the Lord for whom we have waited"
Psalm 117 :1-2 -- "Praise the Lord, all you nations"
Romans 2:12-16 -- "The doers of the law will be justified"
Mark 7:24-30 -- "For saying this, you may go home happy"
Commentary
Nearly every day we hear of violence in different parts of the world between followers of different faiths. We learn that Korea however is a place where different faiths -- Buddhist, Christian, Confucian -- mostly coexist in peace.
In a great hymn of praise, the prophet Isaiah speaks of all tears being wiped away and a rich feast for all people and nations! One day, asserts the prophet, all the peoples of the earth will praise God and rejoice in the salvation he offers. The Lord for whom we have waited is the host at the eternal feast in Isaiah's song of praise.
When Jesus meets a non-Jewish woman who pleads for healing for her daughter he initially refuses to help her, in surprising terms. The woman persists, in similar terms: "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs". Jesus affirms her insight into his mission to Jews and non-Jews alike, and sends her on her way with the promise of healing for her daughter.
The churches are committed to dialogue in the cause of Christian unity. In recent years, dialogue has also developed between people of other faiths, particularly those 'of the Book' (Judaism, Islam): encounters which are not only enlightening but also help promote respect and good relations between neighbors, and build peace where there is conflict. If our Christian witness is united by virtue of our faith in Christ, our opposition to prejudice and conflict will be all the more effective. And if we listen carefully to our neighbors of other faiths, can we learn something more of the inclusiveness of God's love for all people, and of his kingdom?
Dialogue with other Christians should not lead to a loss of a particular Christian identity but to joy as we obey Jesus' prayer that we become one, as he is one with the Father. Unity will not come today or even tomorrow; but together, with other believers, we walk towards that final, common destiny of love and salvation.
Prayer
Lord our God, we thank you for the wisdom we gain from your scriptures. Grant us the courage to open our hearts and our minds to neighbors of other Christian confessions and of other faiths; the grace to overcome barriers of indifference, prejudice or hate; and a vision of the last days, when Christians might walk together towards that final feast, when tears and dissension will be overcome through love. Amen.
--- --- ---
On the Net:
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/
email this article | print this article | comment this article
ZENIT is an International News Agency.
For reprint permission: http://www.zenit.org/english/permissions.html
Visit our web page at http://www.zenit.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html
To give a ZENIT gift subscription: http://www.zenit.org/english/gift.html
To make a donation to support ZENIT: http://www.zenit.org/english/donation.html
SEND US YOUR NEWS.
Please send press releases using: http://www.zenit.org/english/news.html
Copyright, Innovative Media, Inc.
0 comments:
Post a Comment