Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity • Day 8 • January 25, 2012
. .
United
in the reign of Christ
Readings
I
Chronicles 29:10-13 It is in your hand to make great and to give strength
to all
Psalms
21:1-7 You set a crown of fine gold on his head
Revelation
3:19b-22 To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my
throne
John
12:23-26 Whoever serves me, the Father will honor
Commentary
Jesus Christ is the first born from the dead. He has humbled himself
and been exalted. Christ is not covetous of his victory, but shares his
reign and exaltation with all people. David’s hymn, born of the joy of
the king and the people before the Temple was built, expresses the truth
that everything happens by grace. Even an earthly monarch can be an image
of the reign of God, in whose hand it is to make great and to give strength
to all.
The king’s psalm of thanksgiving continues this idea. Christian tradition
also gives it a Messianic sense; Christ is the true King, full of blessing
and life, the perfect presence of God among people. In a certain sense
this image can also refer to people. Are not human beings the crowning
achievement of creation? Does not God want us to become ‘co-heirs with
his Son’ and ‘members of his royal household’?
The letters in the Book of Revelation to the seven local churches constitute
a message to the Church in all times and places. Those who admit Christ
into their homes will all be invited to share with him in the banquet of
eternal life. The promise regarding sitting on thrones, previously announced
to the Twelve, is now extended to all who are victorious.
Where I am, there will my servant be also. We can link Jesus’
I
am to the unutterable Name of God. The servant of Jesus, whom the Father
honors, will be where his Lord is, who has sat on the right hand of the
Father in order to reign. Christians are aware that unity among them, even
if requiring human effort, is above all a gift of God. It is a share in
Christ’s victory over sin, death and the evil which causes division.
Our participation in Christ’s victory reaches its fullness in heaven.
Our common witness to the Gospel should show the world a God who does not
limit or overpower us. We should announce in a way that is credible, to
the people of our day and age, that Christ’s victory overcomes all that
keeps us from sharing fullness of life with him and with each other.
Prayer
Almighty God, Ruler of All, teach us to contemplate the mystery of
Your glory. Grant that we may accept Your gifts with humility and respect
each person´s dignity. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen us for the
spiritual battles which lie ahead, so that united in Christ we may reign
with him in glory. Grant this through him who humbled himself and was exalted,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Family Reflection
In my town, at 10:30am on Good Friday, the Christians—adults, youth
and children—gather to march down the main street carrying crosses and
singing songs. The march mostly starts out with Protestants and some Orthodox,
but half way down the street we time it so that we pass the Roman Catholic
Church just as their mass is finishing, and they stream out to join us.
Our town has many people who are not Christians: Muslims, Hindus, and many
who do not believe in any God. But they look on at us as we carry our crosses,
marching together with smiling faces, and I sometimes think they envy our
unity. It is as if the march is a sort of practice for heaven! In heaven
there will not be any divisions between us. We will all be united. In heaven
we will be like princes and princesses under the kingship of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and we will no longer fight each other.
Do you know Christians of a different denomination from you? Even though
they may do different things from you in church, in most things you think
and act the same way. Can you think of some of the many things that all
Christians think and do the same? |
