Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
-
The 2024 theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself”. Based on Luke 10:27, the international theme calls Christians to act like Christ in loving like the Good Samaritan, showing mercy and compassion to those in need, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or social identity.
In the Gospel of John, Christ prays for his disciples before going to the cross. He asks that his followers “may all be one,” as he and the Father are one, “so that the world may believe” and have life in his name (John 17). Christian unity is here made central to the very being of the church and to its mission and witness. Today, we live with divisions even as we yearn for the unity promised and commissioned by Christ. The long and often painful history of Christianity has sundered our churches for theological, liturgical, and political reasons. Many Christians now strive to heal these divisions, yet still continue to honour our diversity, through ecumenical dialogue, common action, and relationship-building. They come together to pray for unity, joining Christ in his prayer to the Father.
The worldwide celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is both the seed and the fruit of this striving for ‘unity in diversity’. This time of shared prayer, reflection, and fellowship invites Christians of different traditions to deepen our relationships and to live and witness together throughout the year. For ideas on how you can mark the week, including daily reflections and prayers, please visit www.weekofprayer.ca.
Prayer for Christian Unity
Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one,
We pray to you for the unity of Christians,
according to your will, according to your means.
May your Spirit enable us to experience the
suffering caused by division, to see our sin,
and to hope beyond all hope.
Amen
