Happy Unity Octave, January 18 - 25th.
"Octave" is a Latin word
meaning eight. According to the first creation story, God created the
world in seven days. The resurrection of Jesus was called the "eight
day" by early Christians because now life was to be lived in a whole new
dimension of freedom.
Many churches have forgotten that we are
all one body and all are welcome. We are quick to judge, deny, exclude
and ostracize others under the banner of our own brand of
Christianity. Some churches love to hate.
I played at the
funeral of a Protestant minister's mother. In attendance were several
clergy including a Roman Catholic priest. He both received and
distributed Communion. Afterward he asked me not to tell anyone. I
thought it was a beautiful ecumenical example of brotherhood,
Christianity, communion, passion and breaking of the bread.
So
during this octave, we are to pray that all may come together, not
judge, put aside our differences and celebrate our commonalities. The
Church Unity Octave ends on January 25, the feast of the Conversion of
St. Paul. If Paul, Saul of Tarsus, the crazed terrorist and murderer of
Christians is welcome . . .
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