Cliff has been at it again. Whatever shall we do with him? Here I though that the fifteen hours in a car together over the weekend would create a common vision of God the world and everything. No. Instead, it has only tought me how to speak Sofie. She's two and I love to speak Sofie with her. Still sometimes someone needs to translate for me!
Anyway...
Cliff has been reflecting on ecumenism (1, 2, 3). It is good stuff for the most part. And he is a bright guy. But I wanted to toss my hat in the ring somewhat. Well, actually, I want to toss Brother Roger's hat in the ring first. Mine will come later most likely.
Posted by tripp at July 18, 2005 03:27 PMFirst, go and be reconciled
Christ is communion. Will you choose to live a life rooted not in Christ taken in isolation, but in the Risen Lord present on earth in the communion of his Body, the Church? When the Church is a radiant mystery of motherly love and forgiveness, it offers a clear reflection of Christ Jesus.One of the earliest witnesses to the Gospel had already grasped this: "Although I might have the gift of speaking in God's name, know all things and have faith strong enough to move mountains, if I do not have love, all of that is useless."
In that unique communion which is the Church, oppositions to ancient and new are tearing the Body of Christ apart.
The luminous ecumenical vocation is and always will be a matter of achieving a reconciliation without delay.
For the Gospel, reconciliation does not wait. "When you are bringing your gift to the altar and your sister or brother has something against you, leave everything; first go and be reconciled."
"First go!" Not, "Put off till later."
Ecumenism fosters illusory hopes when it puts off reconciliation until later. It comes to a standstill, becomes fossilized even, when it accepts the creation of parallel paths on which vital energies of forgiveness are squandered.
Reconciliation makes us fully consistent with the Gospel...and so offers a peaven of peace and trust to the entire family. - Bro. Roger of Taize
Tripp:
I replied to your comment on my Ecumenism III post over on my blog.
It is there that I make distinctions about reconciliation that Br. Roger fails to make, and which therefore make his comments less valuable than they should be.