#Week of prayer for christian unity 2019 series#

The Middle East has given thousands of Christian witnesses and thousands of Christian martyrs. And it was from this East that the apostles set out to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It was in the Middle East that the Word of God took root and bore fruit: thirty and sixty and one hundredfold. The cruelty of these narratives resonates with the long history and difficult present of the Middle East. The story of the Magi also contains many dark elements, most particularly HerodвЂ™s despotic orders to massacre all the children around Bethlehem who were two years old or under (Matt 2:16-18).

#Week of prayer for christian unity 2019 series#

Since the Palestinian Nakba (the exodus of PalestineвЂ™s Arab population during the 1948 war) the region has seen a series of bloody wars and revolutions and the rise of Islamic extremism. This text has been chosen by the churches of the Middle East, the history of which was, and still is, characterized by conflict and strife, tainted with blood and darkened by injustice and oppression. In this we can find a metaphor for Christian unity: that is, of different Christian peoples drawn together in their common search to recognise Christ, to know him and to worship him and witnessing to wider need for unity and to overcome injustice. The Magi travel from far-off countries, and represent diverse cultures, yet they are driven by the same hunger to see and know the new-born king and are gathered into the little house in Bethlehem in the simple act of giving homage.

The story might therefore represent the unity of all created that God desires. The Magi have sometimes been seen as a symbol of the worldвЂ™s diversity вЂ“ different religions and cultures вЂ“ that comes to pay homage to the Christ-child. Indeed, we have recently celebrated Christmas the Feast of Incarnation and Epiphany.

The story of the Magi visiting the Holy Family in Bethlehem is one very familiar to us. Each day we will be sharing their resources so watch this space! Introduction From 18th-25th January 2022 Churches Together are encouraging us to join with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.