PRAYING FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Dovetale Edition:
Mar 2008
My first attempt at being ecumenical was disastrous. I was trying to impress a rabbi – the first ever I met. I told him how much I enjoyed the Seder meal and his response gave me the impression that I had no business celebrating a Jewish custom.
I realised I had overreacted and I had just better reach out to Christians of all stripes instead. To me ‘ecumenical’ means embracing all people who cross my path irrespective of their divergent faiths - but not necessarily their beliefs. I am not, however, called to be big time with all.
After the rabbi encounter, nothing quite rattles me anymore, so I was quite comfortable attending the talk “Ecumenism & Christianity - a Methodist Point” by Rev Dr. Daniel Koh, on 17 January. The talk kicked off the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity organised by the Scheut Missions (CICM). Dr Koh’s sharing was most gracious, his views optimistic, his heart kind and generous, and his spirit ecumenical. It was refreshing to hear a staunch Methodist sharing his views on ecumenism.
During the Q & A session, I asked Dr Koh what concrete steps are being taken to bridge or narrow the gap between our divided Christian brethren, after a lapse of a hundred years since Rev Paul Wattson initiated “Prayers for Christian Unity” in 1908. Dr Koh replied that for now, he could only share my dream and pray for the eventual unity. Even though we may not be sheltered under the same roof or have fellowship often, we are still considered brothers and sisters in Christ.
Fr Frans de Ridder, who chaired the event, answered my question with a list of ways whereby we could be ecumenical. It was indeed practical, I surmised.
For the time being, it is unrealistic to expect everyone to be Roman Catholics or Methodists or Presbyterians or Anglicans or whatever Christian denomination. To use a fashionable phrase, “Not in my life time - nor yours”. But when we are asked for the hope that we have, we answer “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5-11-18), the theme for this year’s “Prayer for Christian Unity”.
Sylvia Yeo