Five Ways – Jan 25

January 28, 2025

First, as we end the first month of the Jubilee Year, 2025, let us remember the need for joy.  In our Old Testament reading from Nehemiah for Jan. 26, we saw that when people realize more deeply how much God loves us, we can be sad that we are so far from God’s love.  Nehemiah told the people to put aside their sadness, for “rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength” (8:10).  So we look at two more Scripture statements from kids:  St. Paul cavorted to Christianity, he preached holy acrimony which is another name for marriage.  Christians have only one spouse.  This is called monotony. (from Book 2, Fr. Gloat Gleanings, p. 61).

Secondly, as we invite other Christians, especially Protestants, to join us in our designated Jubilee Year Churches, the Vatican has warned us not to emphasize the indulgences possible. In a one-page document, “Opening the Door to St. Peter’s Basilica: A Note from the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Dec. 24, 2024,” the Vatican reminded us that excessive concern about indulgences was one reason for the Protestant Reformation.  So when we invite other Christians to the Holy Year events, let us stress pilgrimage, the joint hymns we share, and solid preaching on the Bible.

Thirdly, let us remember the concern of Pope Francis for continued work with other Christians.  I am grateful to Fr. Seamus Finn, O.M.I. for sending me Pope Francis meeting with the ecumenical delegation from Finland during the Jan. 18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, attached below.

As part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis receives an ecumenical delegation from Finland and recalls that Christian hope in the Lord never disappoints and that Christians are to always persevere in prayer…. Read all: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-to-ecumenical-delegation-hope-does-not-disappoint.html

Many thanks to those who commented on the Dec. 30 Five Ways letter.  More items are available on Mission-Unity-Dialogue, http://www.harrywinter.org.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Harry Winter, O.M.I.