JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD:

The Unity Service last Wednesday evening was a blessed occasion.

The symbol of light was the focus as we lit our candles from the Paschal (Easter) Candle and reminded ourselves of our common baptism. Rev Julia Pratt, the Anglican Chaplain at Hope University preached a powerful homily which reminded us that we are already united and that the call of St Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians is that we are to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” There is much for us to reflect on as we struggle with a world where the Christian tradition is being manipulated by some powerful politicians to further their own agendas.

We should be thankful for Pope Leo, who is not ignoring the challenge and for the three American Cardinals, including our own Redemptorist Joseph Tobin, who recently spoke out against the inherent dangers of a vision of the Faith which clearly discriminates and does not recognise the inherent dignity of every human person. One image you may find helpful in the baptismal ritual of taking a light from the Paschal Candle is that we need one another to be handing the light on: one to another. And remember the instruction: “KEEP THE FLAME OF FAITH ALIVE!”

Of course, this is the whole vision of the synodal concept of accompanying one another on the pilgrimage of life. Perhaps we could spend some time this year in the build-up to Easter, reflecting on ways in which we could more evidently share our faith with each other and so become more effective evangelisers?