Discover the unity that already exists in us

Read Time:6 Minute, 21 Second

Meditation on Saturday, the fifth week of Lent, year B1

What Jesus does is controversial. He has just led his friend out of the tomb, some are beginning to believe that he is the Son of God, and others are overwhelmed by fear. Community leaders see him as a threat that will draw the wrath of Rome on the Jews. The still tense situation, the attempt to protect the temple and the status quo prevailing in the occupied territory – all this makes the high priests and Pharisees panic and want to eliminate the threat they see in Jesus. They decide, under the influence of Caiaphas, to kill the teacher in Galilee. It was supposed to protect the social order, although it seems that the author of the Gospel himself describes the meeting of the High Council a little ironically, knowing that the murder of Jesus will not save the temple or the nation, which in a few decades will be destroyed, and the temple will be a pasture for Roman cattle.

The first reading of the prophet Ezekiel foreshadows the restoration of God’s people and the gathering of them into one under David’s eternal reign. At this time, there will be peace with God and sanctification. From the beginning of salvation history, God has tried to mold his people to think in categories other than those who do not know God. The greatest desire of Yahweh seems to be for God to be close to people in accordance with the words: “I will put my tabernacle in their midst” and “I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Some may wish to see in this speech about a nation, people, etc., a praise for some form of favoritism towards their people, or perhaps for nation-states or other earthly Kingdoms. I must admit that I am disgusted with the confusion of “the cross with the emblems of nations”, not to mention the “covenant of the altar with the throne”. Although perhaps such an arrangement was still to be defended in the Old Testament, the New Covenant tells about other, new people. The people of the new covenant are not just a nation or tribe, but a community gathered by faith in Jesus and mutual love. By dying on the cross, Christ brings salvation and union to all people. This union is based not on human peace treaties, but on reconciliation with God.

These aren’t just godly words, but they have their real incarnations. As an example, let me tell you a story from my life. I remember a few years ago, while in London, I decided to go on Friday to an Anglican parish with a very interesting call to “Our Lady among the Heathers” (if I remember correctly, of course). I had to travel from the hotel to the church for several minutes by bus. On the way there was a stop whose name can be translated “Przeorska Street”. There was a beautiful neo-gothic church next to it (this is not the one I was going to yet). What surprised me, however, was what I noticed. The church was open, and around the sidewalks many women and many men in white robes walked towards it. The women wore something similar to Muslim headscarves, but only white. I thought that the church must have been given to the Muslim community – after all, they went there on Friday, which is a holy day for the followers of Muhammad’s prophecies. With some disappointment and probably even sadness that the church no longer serves Christians, I went “to Our Lady among the Heathers”. On the spot, it turned out that the service that was to be held was canceled. First thought: probably this church will soon be a mosque.

These white robes did not give me peace, however. On my way back, I decided to stop at Przeorska Street and see what was happening in that church. After going inside, I saw carpets in the porch – this is not a common sight in Gothic or neo-Gothic churches – also benches and shoes left behind by the walls. The only English I could find was on the door and it was a request to take your shoes off before going inside. I took them off and walked in with some apprehension as to what I would see and whether I might be violating some order there.

I crossed the rehearsals of the temple, which was full of people in white, all singing in an incomprehensible language, but the words were familiar: Kyrie Eleison, Hallelujah. In the presbytery there is an iconostasis and a standing clergyman. When I realized that it was an Ethiopian church, I felt that although it was so completely different, I was at the house of my brothers and sisters. I thought that although I am separated from these people by my appearance, language, mentality, culture, we are connected by what is the most precious – Jesus Christ.

I have had many such adventures with people who experience their Christianity differently, but this story is probably the most interesting, because I have never been to an Ethiopian temple before (it happened to me a few more times, though not in Ethiopia yet).

So when I think of God’s people, I recall the experience. Through his resurrection, Christ did create a new people of God, the people of the second election after Israel. Today I cannot agree with Caiaphas’ idea that it is better for one to die for the nation. Yes, Caiaphas prophesies that Jesus is dying for a new chosen people, but the idea of sacrificing individuals for some mass is inhuman and non-evangelical! After all, everyone is a person, every woman and every man carries within him a unique image of God. The new chosen people is not a nameless mass but a communion of persons united by the Trinity and in the Holy Trinity. This communion makes us a perfect unity not through the same views, appearance, culture, etc., but through the same desires of God, to be united with Him and live in the love of the Holy Spirit.

Everything that destroys our unity, antagonizes one against another, I consider it a terrible sin to oppose God’s will to unite humanity in love and peace, in mutual respect, because God’s unity, I believe, is not about unification, but about communion , exchange of “gifts”, charisms.

In a moment we are going to celebrate the Easter holidays, we will remember Jesus’ exit from the abyss of death and the beginning of a new creation, a great renewal of humanity through love. As Christians, we must show this love to everyone: friends and enemies, because they too bear the image of God, which we have no right to annihilate.

Christ dies, one for all, as an innocent victim, but before that he establishes the food of union – the Eucharist, Holy Communion. I believe that it is in it that we discover our universal unity in the Holy Trinity, which is communicated to everyone in the bread and wine.

God of the Jews and God of Christians, God eternal and living, help us to discover the unity you desire for us. Not only by our human efforts, not by forcing unity or manipulation, but let your Holy Spirit pour His love into us and inspire us to meet You in the otherness of sisters and brothers, so that the Church may become a truly new community, gathered in the name and power of the Trinity Saint.