Joseph Jules Zerey: Christian Unity 2017

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 29, 2017

Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey

At the end of this holy week blessing our hearts, I wish to thank the Christian communities in this holy city "Jerusalem" who organized prayers for Christian unity in their congregations in Jerusalem. I wish too to thank everyone who participated in these prayers. I would like too to welcome you and, in a special way, the Heads of the churches and their representatives present in our Cathedral "Our Lady of the Annunciation" of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church.

Although the Greek Melkite Catholic Church entered into full communion with the Catholic Church since 1724, She has not left her elder beloved sister but continues to follow the same liturgy, rites, and feasts according to the Eastern Byzantine Christian tradition. In prayer, we ask the Lord that the full unity with the beloved sister Greek Orthodox Church be re-established. In this holy church, I personally raise my daily prayer for His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos and my brothers the Bishops of Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches as well as my brothers Bishops of the Catholic Churches.

My beloved brethren, Since the general topic for this year's prayers takes its roots and opens from the words "the love of Christ impels us" and urges us (2 Cor. 5: 14), today's invitation is a strong one for reconciliation. "Reconciliation" became a duty upon us since we know Christ's love for all. The first reading from the Book of Micah (1: 4-5) speaks to us about the Mount: Mount Zion on top of which is built this holy City, the one that is strengthened on top of the mountains and is high above the hills. To it will run the peoples of the earth and there they will learn the Law of the Lord. Of their swords they shall make tools to cultivate the land, and of their spears they shall make sickles, thus no nation shall raise a sword against another nation and they shall learn no more war.

What was foreseen by Micah the Prophet has been realized in the coming of Christ the Lord, the Word of God who was incarnate and born of the Virgin Mary, our mother. Yes, the prophecy for salvation began its realization with our mother the Virgin Mary. Her faith in the annunciation by the archangel Gabriel opened the door of salvation to all humanity when Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, took a human body from her by the power of the Holy Spirit who came upon her to make the impossible possible. This is why we thank her and venerate her in our prayers. For her faith she deserves to be called Mother of God ,Theotokos

The prophecy of Micah the Prophet has been realized too in the passion, death, and Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, the New Adam. From his pierced side on the cross, emerged the New Eve, bride of Christ, "the Church." We who have believed in Christ, Son of the living God, are born in his Church and form one body, the bride of Christ, the Church : One, Catholic, Holy, and Apostolic as recited in the Nicene Creed.

My beloved brethren, We all, who live in this holy city surrounded by its great walls and marked by its holy places, witness to the Divine salvation that took place here:
The Cenacle where the Last Supper took place, and from Gethsemane to Caiaphas palace then to Pilate's palace where Christ was condemned to be crucified, was whipped and taken carrying His cross on the way to Golgotha where Christ was crucified, the tomb where Christ's body was buried from which he rose after three days. How beautiful and sacred is this holy city. However as we heard in the second reading from Revelation (21: 1-5) "The New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God." This new Jerusalem is much larger than this holy city we see on earth. It is larger than the universe, decorated in her doors and precious stones for her bridegroom. This is the Church "the bride of Christ." Everyone there reconciled with Christ, and with his  brothers, and worked according to Christ's commandments especially for the unity of all
l. Everyone there who is going on preaching the joy of the Resurrection of Christ as did
Mary Magdalene and the Apostles according to the third reading - the Gospel recited to
us (John 20: 11-18). Therefore, all those who believed in the passion, death, and Resurrection of Christ,  worked according to His commandments, and went on preaching with all their power and love for Christ and their faith in His Resurrection; but also all who suffered or were martyred for the sake of Christ enter in their white garments this holy city "holy Jerusalem" coming down from heaven.  Anyone who chooses not to enter in this free salvation but rather prefers division and slavery to the various desires of the flesh and all kinds of sin will find himself lifeless with sorrow outside.

My prayer today is for us to reconcile with each other quickly as Christ reconciled us. Let us embrace each other and reconcile with each other starting from this holy city so that our reconciliation and unity may be "a spring of life-giving water" which gets transformed into fresh river that satiates the peoples of the world that are thirsty for faith in the living God and His salvation in His Son Jesus Christ by the grace of His Holy Spirit - so that the prayer of Christ to the Father may be realized that as He is "one with the Father" we may be one in Him. Whenever it is realized we will have achieved the fullness of unity.

Thank you again to everyone who attended today and in particular the Heads of the Churches and their representatives in this holy city "Jerusalem."