Prayer for Christian Unity

“Christ is communion…He did not come to earth to start one more religion, but to offer to all a communion in God…’Communion’ is one of the most beautiful names of the Church.” Br Roger of Taizé

This coming week marks the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There is something both painful and beautiful in the title we give this: the fact that it's a week of 'Prayer for' demonstrates how very far we are from the ideal state, where all of God's children can worship in perfect unity, while respecting and rejoicing in our diversity. But it also maps the path to this unity, the path of prayer. When words fail and theology divides, prayer can bring us closer to each other as we draw closer to God. We can think of ourselves as like spokes on a bicycle wheel: at the rim of the wheel, we are far apart, but as we draw closer to the centre, which is God, we also draw closer to those from whom we have been divided.

One of the clearest witnesses to the power of communal prayer is the ecumenical community of Taizé, in Burgundy. A central part of every service held there is a time of silent prayer, in which the Holy Spirit is invited to pray with and within those gathered 'in sighs too deep for words'. As we mark the WPCU on Monday with a Taizé-style service, joining with ecumenical partners from across the city, this time of silence will be at the heart of our worship: through it, may we be drawn into the mystery and beauty of the communion that Christ offers to all.