Crash Course in Theology

(ECUMENISM and INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE)

REFLECTION

“Ut unum sint…” That they may be one... (John 17:21). This is the Scriptural

text which accentuates the command, promise and prayer of Jesus Christ for His

Church. The Holy Spirit works within the Roman Catholic Church and beyond the

boundaries of any churches to bring us all into unity for the salvation of the whole

world-the salvation of man and all creation planned by the Father, who constantly

reveals Himself across the history of man and was perfectly revealed and accomplished

through Jesus Christ, His Son, His Image par excellent, who through His passion, death

and resurrection redeemed us from the bondage of sin (original and personal) and

death.

…just as You, Father are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so

that the world may believe that You have sent me. (John 17:21) The Father is made

visible through Jesus Christ, the Sacrament of the Father. The invisible Mystical Body

of Christ, whose life and holiness comes from and is sustained by the Holy Spirit, is

being made visible by the 7 sacraments instituted by Christ Himself. We, the faithful, the

disciples of Jesus Christ, through the Word of God, the graces we receive from the

sacraments and the authentic witnessing to our faith, become visible sacraments of

the Church of Christ to the whole world. It is, therefore, our mission as Christians to

become agents of unity, peace, justice and love to all; embracing all people from all

walks of life, respecting our differences without compromising our Catholic faith.

Interdependence among fellow Christians and non-Christians in matters of faith and

morals powered by love best exemplified by Jesus Christ must be the goal of any

attempt to ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue. It is never our goal to make other people

proselytize but we earnestly invite them to rediscover and deepen their faith as we

share in the mission of the early Christians: kerygma (evangelization), koinonia

(communal life and prayer) and diakonia (humble service)..

The history of man is beset by a complexity of concerns and uncurtail

concupiscence and irascible tendencies. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”.
Despite efforts to establish the unity in the Church and spread the faith, the early

Fathers combatted numerous heresies, doctrinal, juridical, political and theological

issues. The first 7 Councils which were held to explain and declare the official stand of

the Roman Catholic Church, instead of unifying the Eastern and Western Church,

paved a way for division and distinction in some of the beliefs, tradition, liturgy and

practices between the RCC and Eastern Orthodox Church. Behind the sad events of

separation comes the silver lining of wide effort to spread the Gospel, thus, the gradual

and sometimes painful growth of the Church. Before the Church opened its mind and

act towards unity among believers, Protestants and other Christian denomination were

already ahead in their efforts to unify themselves, trying to settle their doctrinal,

theological and liturgical differences, in though vain. Outside the Reformist Church there

arose Liberalism and Positivism; inside there were Pietist Movement and Anglican

Communion. For global missionary efforts, there was WCC(World Council of Churches).

On the other hand, in the Councils of Trent and Vatican Councils, we see how the

Church’s transition happened, from being a fortified wall into a bridge. Her doctrine

never changes but practices that adjust to the needs of time and enculturation are given

a lot of consideration. Holy and noble men of faith- Martin Luther, John Calvin, Pope

Pius XII, Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Johann Adam Mohler and

Matthias Scheeben are some of the important persons inscribed in the history of the

Church’s effort toward Ecumenism because of their serious effort to seek and stand for

what is true, good and beautiful despite resistance and rejection from those in the

hierarchy. They were moved by the Holy Spirit according to His will. Some may have

made wrong or unpopular decisions but ‘God can make straight line out of crooked

ones”. They have done their part. It is high time for us to do ours.

“Let your Light shine for all the world to see- the brightness of your Light within,

the Truth that sets you free… All will see the deeds you do and give Your Father praise.

(song chorus)