Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 18-25

DAY 1

Our calling

Verse for the day

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the

calling to which you have been called (Eph 4:1).

Additional Scripture passages

Micah 6:6-8

Psalm 133

Mark 3:13-15

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:1, Paul emphasizes the significance of living a life worthy of the “calling to which you have been called”, which i s intrinsically linked to the unity of the Christian community. In the midst of a divided society, the Gospel calls believers to overcome barriers and foster reconciliation. This divine calling invites us to embody God’s values within the fellowship of believers. By aligning our conduct with this calling, we not only reflect Christ’s teachings but also contribute to the unity and growth of the Body of Christ. Recognizing and embracing this calling is essential for living out the true essence of Christian community and nurturing a harmonious, supportive fellowship.

A question to consider

How does reflecting on the “calling to which you have been called” as described in Ephesians 4:1 inspire you to actively contribute to unity within your local and wider church communities?

Prayer

God of light,

you have called us out of darkness into your light.

May our response to your call lead us to actively seek reconciliation

and share your light in the world.

Amen.

At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

WHEN: Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. In the southern hemisphere, where January is a vacation time, churches often find other days to celebrate it, for example around Pentecost, which is also a symbolic date for unity.

In order to prepare for the annual celebration, ecumenical partners in a particular region are invited to produce a basic liturgical text on a biblical theme. Then an international editorial team of WCC and Roman Catholic representatives refines this text to ensure that it can be prayed throughout the world, and to link it with the search for the visible unity of the church.

Ephesians 4:1 13

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spi rit in the bond of peace: there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his

(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, f or building up the Body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

New Revised Standard Version