COMMON GROUND

Who would expect me and some of the members of my church  seated on a pew before an altar that looks like this?

Altar of the Sto. Nino Parish Church
Tanza, Navotas

The said church is the host church to A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Liturgical Worship last January 21, 2013 were my church is one of the participating churches.

Christian Unity? One might ask that question.  How can different churches be united when they differ in so many ways?

Indeed, there are so many differences that we can point out among the churches.  But unity does not mean the absence of differences.  It is not unity but conformity.  Unity among the churches means you agree in spite of the differences and  seek a common ground were people can work for a common goal. 

If you think that graven images is the one that divides us from our Roman Catholic brothers?  We accused them of idolatry.  I want us to realize that we are as guilty as them in the issue of idolatry.  We, non-Roman Catholics have our imaginary idols.  It can be money, relationships and other matters that we put more important to us than God.  As for me, I have long realized that idolatry is no longer the practice of a particular church but also of all people.

Besides, why emphasize the differences when we can appreciate our similarities.  Actually, there is a lot  of things to appreciate in the event.

The Homily of the Bishop

The Song of the Choir

The Participation of  Other Non-Catholic Churches.
This is Lina Manuel from our church

Amy Betiong

And the rest of the delegates coming from our church

Other pastors and Me

Priest from Episcospal Church in the Philippines
and the General Secretary of the
 National Council of Churches in the Philippines
giving his message

The host priest and the speaker Bishop

People got used to seeing the difference among people more than their similarities.  More so when the differences is in the area of religious practices.  But if we will only shift our vision onto what holds us together, we will realize that there are more significant things that bind us than separates us.

The Liturgical Worship was followed by a simple meal of bread and water for the lay people and a heavy meal for the clergy. What a divine display of unity, that is, sharing a meal with people other than your own!

So do not be surprised if you will see me next time inside a Roman Catholic Church.  I am still not into graven images.  But I am now for the people who would like to practice the essence of the faith that they embrace.