Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 24 January 2016

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 24th 2016

Luke opens Jesus' ministry and mission with that famous scripture reading from and sermon in the synagogue at Nazara. We know these words so well and in this year of mercy they call us back to our basic vocation as disciples of the Lord. But though the words of Jesus at first found favour with people, as he expounded on his theme they were also disturbed and annoyed. Is that good? Yes I think so. We do need to be challenged for the Word of the Lord and the work of the Spirit is not about maintaining the status quo but about change, renewal, healing, forgiveness and proclamation of God's love and mercy. We are after all a pilgrim people!

Unity and diversity within the Church of Christ have been argued about right from the start, but they are not incompatible. From experiences in our own daily lives we can see it is life enhancing to have different people with differing talents around us, but it is also important that we share some ideas in common. That's what Paul often tries to put across about the teaching of Jesus in his writings. Unity is not rigid uniformity, nor is diversity total individualism. The key of course lies in relationships, which holds us all together whilst allowing the vibrant difference. Paul's analogy of the human body is a great image, 'the parts are many but the body is one'.

In recent years Christian Unity seems to have become less important in the vision of the churches, there are local and international initiatives, but also a sense that it is not necessarily the most important issue facing us. Oh but it is! The call to unity is Christ's call! The Spirit of the Lord is not given to one denomination or another but to God's holy people wherever we are. No matter what, in baptism and discipleship we are all sisters and brothers of the Lord Jesus. True ecumenism is at the heart of every aspect of our lives in faith.

Time we sat up and heard those words of Jesus in Nazara cutting through any complacency or ecclesiastical navel gazing. The world needs to hear the Good News from us! For the plight of the poor, of our Middle East Christian communities facing extinction, of refugees and migrants, of all in need of mercy is the real ecumenism of our times. Different we may be but united in God's compassionate love.

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain. Fr Robin asks for our prayers, as this evening, he and other priests are being installed as Honorary Canons of Christchurch Cathedral Oxford during Evensong.