By Leon Bent –
The theme for 2020, chosen and prepared by a group of representatives from the Christian Churches in Malta, is from the Acts of the Apostles: “They Showed Us Unusual Kindness”.
“It is indeed relevant to pray that we Christians may act – as the themes says – with “unusual kindness”, when it comes to those, who because of the realities and the harshness of life where they are, arrive on our shores,” he said.
The Malta Archbishop expressed his belief that it is very important that Christians, “not only pray together, but act together so that we can set the example before the world of a loving community that welcomes foreigners, cares for them and that gives them the dignity to which they are entitled as human beings.”
He goes on to reflect on the need for concrete ecumenical action in order to help change a perspective and narrative which sees migrants and refugees as strangers rather than as our brothers and sisters in need.
Archbishop Ernest recalls that before his death, Jesus prayed that we all One, “because the Father and He are one, and this is a mandate He gave us, that we be together, to witness together to His love. Therefore, it is particularly important, he said, that “in times of hardship, in times of persecution, in times where people have no place to go, that we welcome them.”
“We have a God who has come down to us to welcome us where we are, and it is important – and I am glad – that today Christians are able to see each other, to pray with each other. And it is not only to pray with each other that is important, but what do we do from there?” he asked (Pope Francis).
Ernest expressed his appreciation for the fact that we have Church leaders, like Pope Francis, who “are truly at the forefront of that struggle of going to the other, taking the hand of the other…”
So, he said, this theme is really appropriate because there should be a new way of life, a transformational way that we can bring about in the world in which we live.
Noting that he is new on the job (he has been in Rome only for 3 months), Archbishop Ernest said that while this year he will be participating in various events and initiatives, he is hopeful and confident that next year the Anglican Centre in Rome will be able to open its own doors for some significant events.
Archbishop Ernest concluded with an appeal to all those who profess to be Christians to act with ‘unusual kindness’ as it is said in the Acts of the Apostles, noting that “if there is ‘unusual kindness’, there will be great hope for a change of mindset in the world in which we live.
At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
In 1964, the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council issued its Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), and in 1995, St. John Paul II issued Ut Unum Sint, an encyclical letter on commitment to ecumenism. In a 2007 doctrinal note, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith taught that: Ecumenism does not have only an institutional dimension aimed at “making the partial communion existing between Christians grow towards full communion in truth and charity.” It is also the task of every member of the faithful, above all by means of prayer, penance, study and cooperation.
Everywhere and always, each Catholic has the right and the duty to give the witness and the full proclamation of his faith. With non-Catholic Christians, Catholics must enter into a respectful dialogue of charity and truth, a dialogue which is not only an exchange of ideas, but also of gifts, in order that the fullness of the means of salvation can be offered to one’s partners in dialogue. In this way, they are led to an ever deeper conversion to Christ.
And this final flourish! The Catholic and Mainline Protestant Churches are working for the Healing, Reconciliation and At-one-ment of All!
Leon Bent is an ex-Seminarian and studied the Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, from St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He holds Masters Degree in English Literature and Aesthetics. He has published three Books and have 20 on the anvil. He has two extensively “Researched” Volumes to his name: Hail Full of Grace and Matrimony: The Thousand Faces of Love. He won The Examiner, Silver Pen Award, 2000 for writing on Social Issues, the clincher being a Researched Article on Gypsies in India, published in an issue of the (worldwide circulation) Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, New Delhi. On April, 28, 2018, Leon received the Cardinal Ivan Dias Award for a research paper in Mariology.