By Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu
I had the privilege of participating in the third ecumenical trip with Protestant brothers and sisters from May 10 to May 22.
Apart from visiting the places of origin of different Christian denominations, we also visited churches, historical museums, and institutions or colleges related to them and exchanged views with local pastors and believers. The experience enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of different denominational histories and to broaden our horizons.
As our journey in Europe was by long-distance coach from Germany to Rome, Italy, we spent more time together on the bus. During the road trip, we prayed together, sang hymns, and shared our experiences of being called by the Lord and walking with him.
Whenever my brothers and sisters shared with me with openness and thanksgiving, I could feel the richness of the Lord’s grace on all of us. I am sure that I was not the only one touched by this. When I shared this with some of my companions, I could confirm that it was the Holy Spirit’s work that brought us together.
Despite the fact that we come from different denominations and have been nurtured by different traditions, we all felt deeply loved and called by the same Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Through these similar callings, we also discovered more about brotherhood and sisterhood, and through sharing and listening to each other, we came to know each other better. It was in the same manner as the miraculous Nativity when “the Word became flesh. and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14-15), and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is both God and man, was born and grew up in the human community to share and learn.
Living together over a longer period of time allowed us to connect more naturally, to care for each other, to support each other, and to continue to walk together. Wherever we visited, we could always feel the presence of Jesus Christ in our community.
This journey of unity did not begin the day we gathered at the Hong Kong International Airport, but during the Last Supper with the disciples!
Jesus’ prayer and exhortation for the unity of his disciples and all believers, uttered during that Passover meal: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are” [John 17:11b, 21-23], was a starting point. His promise at his ascension after his resurrection: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” [Matthew 28:20] was a faithful companion in our journey of unity.
Perhaps because of a deeper understanding of human nature, and perhaps because of his divine omniscience, the Lord foresaw that there would be divisions or exclusions in the human community, and he made this prayer for unity before he left.
Lord, thank you for being with me on this journey of unity!
