This blog seeks to promote and establish ecumenism among all groups and denominations of the Christian Faith via expressions in written language, and through any means of communication. We seek the promotion of others that are working towards the same common goal, as well. The prayer of Jesus in John 17: 21 was: "I pray that they may all be one…." Ultimately and eternally, the creation of unity among all believers and followers of Christ is sought desiring harmony with and for all of humanity.
"A
film depicting a woman – Petrunya – who breaks church and social traditions by
grabbing a cross thrown by an Orthodox priest into an icy river in an Epiphany
ritual meant for young men has been awarded the prize of the Ecumenical Jury at
the 69th Berlinale film festival in the German capital (oikoumene.org)."
The above excerpt is from an article on the World Council of
Churches website. I am not writing much about it, I prefer that you read about
it yourself. The article read that Anna Grebe described the film as a
“modern day parable for its daring portrayal of the transformation of a
disempowered young woman into an outspoken defender of women’s rights.” Read
the full article on the link below.
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Northern
Hemisphere winter season. I know that for some winter can be a bit harsh and unpleasant,
but down here in South Florida it is more enjoyable than our harsh hot summer.
I am still undecided on whether I prefer an extreme winter or an extreme
summer. Anyhow, in this post I just want to share an article from the Anglican Communion
News Service.
The article was posted on January 22, 2019, and it is
titled: Zambian Churches unite in call for an end to the “persecution of
Zimbabwean citizens.” I suppose many in the US are bombarded daily by the media
with stories on Wall Building and Government Shutdowns, and we forget that we
are just one country amongst many on our planet. And, sometimes we are ignorant
about what is going on in other places such as Zimbabwe. The following is an
excerpt from the article:
'“Civil Society in Zambia remains
deeply concerned with the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe and the reported human
rights violations against citizens by the state”, the Zambian NGO joint
statement said. “As civil rights groups, we are particularly concerned with the
reported beatings, arrest and killing of unarmed citizens who were peacefully
demonstrating against the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe. We also take
note that it had to take a Court action to overturn the shutdown of the
internet which had [been done] in an effort to silence the masses (www.anglicannews.org/)."'
I am sure that from just reading this brief excerpt one quickly
understands that something is going on in Zimbabwe. Read the full article at
the link below.
For years I had the naive philosophy that deep down most people are basically good. Once I woke up to reality, my intuitive understanding of all began fitting perfectly. Moreover, predictions of outcomes have also flowed naturally, realistically, and closer to initial expectations. Of course, the scenario of people that think are good when, in fact, they are the opposite exists...many fool themselves all the way to the grave.
If one looks
up the definition of the word politics, one soon realizes that several
definitions exist for the word. Basically, our personal opinions of how society
should run collective affairs relate to politics. Moreover, we elect officials
as leaders to conduct social affairs for society in a way we feel is correct.
Most people feel that their personal views, which they have acquired due to
many factors involving things such as upbringing or religious views, are
correct based on their understanding of all. This idea of understanding of all
can be described as a worldview. Merriam-Webster defines worldview as a
comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a
specific standpoint. The foregoing basically involves one’s understanding which
can have limitations based on many factors depending on our personal
experiences, for instance. Our place of birth along with the different culture
or language to which one was initially exposed contributes greatly to our worldviews.
Consequently, worldviews are as diverse as our world, which consists of many
races, nations, and languages. Inhabitants of planet Earth think and have
opinions which often evolve and transition depending on our age, or perhaps
phases in life which we go through. Based on some of these factors, our ideas
about anything can very often be completely different. Regardless of all mentioned
thus far, the one thing we all share is our humanity. We are a species that
inhabits this planet in our physical universe, and as our lives interact, we make
decisions based on how to best share this collective experience. Politics
ultimately is involved in this process on a national and global level, but how
much we allow politics to be involved in our daily lives is important. A
question I ask is at what point do we stop making personal decisions and allow
others to decide for us. Moreover, what percentage of our personal decisions
will we allow to conceivably be made for us? Will we ultimately allow a
politicization of all? The foregoing question is basically the title to this
post, and perhaps it is where humanity is standing now. Ultimately, this
question is possibly the one we may be asking ourselves without asking out loud.
This question is obviously also ecumenical, and the one thing I do know is that
many people do not like anyone else making decisions for them, especially those
with which they disagree. I recently took an idea from the Stephen Stills’ song,
For what it’s worth. A line in the
song says: nobody's right if everybody's wrong. I took this idea a step further
by adding: nobody is wrong if everybody is right. Well, the idea is indeed correct,
if everyone is right than no one is wrong; however, the bigger question this
idea raises is how can everyone be right? Can everyone be right? Personally, I don’t
think it is possible, but there are certain times where we just must agree to
disagree to get along.
In the Third Chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus says at one
point, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who
believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
For years, I’ve often thought that that passage only
referred to Jesus giving his life as a sacrifice on the cross. And to be sure,
that is part of what it means. But some years ago I was reading a commentary by
Raymond Brown, on the Gospel of John, and Professor Brown said that that
passage not only speaks of Jesus willingly giving his life on the cross, but it
actually speaks of Christmas, of God giving his very self, his very son to the
world, not for anything God could get out of it, but for the good and the
welfare and the well-being of the world. Of us.
Someone once said, in a Christmas poem, “Love came down at
Christmas.” That’s what love is. To give, and not to count the cost. To give,
not for what one can get, but for what the other can receive. That’s what love
is. God so loved the world, that he gave.
I realized recently how powerful that passage really is,
when I saw an old poster from 1938. A poster produced by the Episcopal Church
at that time, to encourage Episcopalians and other Christians, and other people
of faith and good will, to do whatever they could to help Jewish refugees
fleeing tyranny in Europe. To help people from all over Europe seeking refuge
in America, this land of freedom. The poster depicts Mary, Joseph, and the baby
Jesus. They’re fleeing persecution in Palestine, as Matthew’s Gospel says. And
the poster depicting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus says in the tag line, “In the name
of these refugees, help all refugees.”
God so loved the world, that he gave, even to the point of
risking his own son. And in the name of those refugees, in the name of that Jesus,
help all refugees, all people who suffer, anyone who’s alone, everyone who is
in need. That’s what love does.
Love came down at Christmas, because God so loved the world,
that he gave.
In those days, a decree went out from the Emperor Augustus,
that all the world should be registered. Joseph also went from the town of
Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem because he
was a descendent from the House of David. He went to be registered with Mary,
to whom he was engaged, and who was expecting a child. While they were there,
she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped him in bands of cloth and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Meanwhile, in that region, there were shepherds, living in
the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then the angel of the Lord
stood above them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they
were terrified. The angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I am
bringing you good news of great joy for all people. To you is born this day, in
the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign.
You will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly, there was with the angels a multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace
to all people on earth.”
Have a blessed Christmas. Have a merry Christmas. Have a
joyful Christmas.
God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all in
those almighty hands of love.
