Office for Christian Unity,
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Meditation
One with humanity
If we want to follow Christ, we must renounce the desire for a privileged place for Christianity in this world; each of us must “become one with humanity” and take this solidarity with the people of our time seriously.
The Church has committed herself to this with the beautiful words at the beginning of the Second Vatican Council’s constitution “Gaudium et spes”: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age (…) are also the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.”
Let us not fear losing ourselves and our Christian identity in the crowd. We don’t distinguish ourselves from the crowd around us by a cross on the flag or on the walls of public buildings, but by our willingness to “take the form of a slave”. It’s also what connects us to people we wouldn’t otherwise connect with. (…) Those who live this way can be both the hidden “salt of the earth” and an inescapable “light of the world”.
Thomas Halik, “Je veux que tu sois”, Chap. XII
(‘I want to you to be’)
Intercessions
Prepared by the brothers and sisters in Belgium
To be used as appropriate
(Intercessory Chorus)
1/ We give thanks for the gatherings of several thousand Christians of different denominations in May at the “art of faith” festival in Belgium and “opwekking” in the Netherlands. We pray that these gatherings will bear fruit in their countries and be a credible and lasting witness for generations to come.
(Intercessory Chorus)
2/. We pray for the Dutch Christian Forum, the Dutch branch of the Global Christian Forum. More than 40 leaders from denominations, faith communities and interfaith organizations will meet on June 14-15 for a retreat. We pray for the renewal of deep relationships beyond church walls.
(Intercessory Chorus)
3/ We pray for all the preparations for World Youth Day in Portugal, and in particular for all the young non-Catholics who have decided to take part. May they, touched by your Spirit, feel welcomed, seen and connected. May Jesus call young people to follow and serve him, so that a renewal of the Church may arise from this gathering.