“There is one body 
and one Spirit, 
just as you were called
to the one hope
of your calling”

Ephesians 4:4 

Table of Contents

Verse for the Year

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, 

“When he ascended on high,

he made captivity itself a captive;

he gave gifts to his people.”

(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1-13

Introduction

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an important opportunity for us in the Sword of the Spirit to pray for unity with Christians from around the world and from various church traditions. We work with materials provided by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches in conjunction with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity of the Catholic Church. 

This year, our theme is based on Ephesians 4:4:  “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling”.  The brothers and sisters tasked with composing the 2026 materials come from the Armenian Apostolic Church, part of the Oriental Orthodox tradition. 

The Armenian Church is one of the oldest Christian communities, deeply rooted in the teachings of the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who evangelized in Armenia as early as the 1st century AD.  St Gregory the Illuminator greatly contributed to its flourishing in the early third century.  During the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the Church became a sanctuary for those suffering and preserving hope for a brighter future. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia experienced a religious revival, and the Armenian Apostolic Church reclaimed its central role in society.  

The Armenian Apostolic Church has a rich tradition of ecumenism, striving to build bridges with other Christian communities. In recent decades, it has engaged in dialogue with various traditions, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Churches, seeking common ground while preserving its unique heritage.

We hope this journey together through the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will increase our hope for greater unity among us and among the Christian people.

From the International President

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

As we join with Christians around the world in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, we rejoice in the theme taken from Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”

This theme speaks deeply to us as the Sword of the Spirit, an international community of covenant charismatic Christian communities. We are a people from many nations, languages, and traditions, yet bound together by one covenant and one Spirit. What unites us is not human effort, but the grace of God poured out through Christ and sealed in us by the Holy Spirit.

At this time in history, when division, confusion, and hostility often mark the world, the Lord is calling us to be living witnesses of His desire for unity. Our covenant life, our commitment to one another, and our ecumenical mission are not small things—they are signs to the wider Church that Jesus’ prayer, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21), is still alive and being fulfilled in our day.

As we celebrate this week, let us remember three encouragements:

  1. Hold fast to the hope of our calling – The unity we long for is not simply organizational, but spiritual and eternal. It is rooted in the hope of resurrection, of the Kingdom fully revealed, of Christ all in all.
  2. Deepen our love for one another – Unity is not only proclaimed but lived. Our relationships across communities and traditions must reflect the humility, forgiveness, and charity of Christ Himself.
  3. Be bold in witness – The world longs for hope and reconciliation. When we live as one people in Christ, across barriers of culture, denomination, and background, our very life together becomes a proclamation of the Gospel.

Beloved brothers and sisters, take courage! The Spirit who unites us is faithful. The God who has begun a good work in us will carry it on to completion. As we pray with the whole Body of Christ this week, may we be renewed in our mission to build covenant communities, to strengthen bonds of unity, and to shine as a sign of God’s Kingdom on earth.

With love in Christ and confidence in His Spirit!

Manny de los Santos
International President
Sword of the Spirit

Day 1: Sunday, January 18 
OUR CALLING

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:1

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:1, Paul emphasizes the significance of living a life worthy of the “calling to which you have been called,” which is intrinsically linked to the unity of the Christian community. In the midst of a divided society, the Gospel calls believers to overcome barriers and foster reconciliation. This divine calling invites us to embody God’s values within the fellowship of believers. By aligning our conduct with this calling, we not only reflect Christ’s teachings but also contribute to the unity and growth of the Body of Christ. Recognizing and embracing this calling is essential for living out the true essence of Christian community and nurturing a harmonious, supportive fellowship.

A question to consider

How does reflecting on the “calling to which you have been called” as described in Ephesians 4:1 inspire you to actively contribute to unity within your local and wider church communities?

Prayer of Response

God of light, you have called us out of darkness into your light.

May our response to your call lead us to actively seek reconciliation and share your light in the world.  Amen.

Intercession

Lord God, our Father, as we join in prayer this week with Christians around the world and especially in the Sword of the Spirit, may we grow in having hearts for unity. We ask that you open our hearts and minds to desire the oneness for which your Son prayed on the night before his sacrifice for us on the Cross. Amen. 

Witness: Ruthie Munk

As a particularly charming middle schooler, I remember asking my dad why he continued in a Greek-speaking church and in a community that was sometimes difficult. He said that the Lord had invited him to the Orthodox Church and to our community, and then hadn’t given him a direction to leave, so—unless the Lord sent him elsewhere—he was staying where God put him, even if was more complicated to do so.

In many ways, this is a big part of the reason I am involved in an ecumenical community: God put me here, and He has not sent me elsewhere, so here I stay. The other reason, though, is that I am confident that ecumenical community is a gift of the God Who gives good gifts to His children, even when they come in complicated packages.

On April 5, my father Jerry passed away. I thought I knew about grief; it turns out, I knew next to nothing. The funeral was beautiful, the prayers have been very much appreciated, brothers and sisters have loved me and have come to walk with me in my raw and very unlovely season of fresh grief… and I have been a mess. God has given me the gift of dear brothers and sisters from many churches, from many countries, and from many experiences of life. He has given me also the precious witness of brothers and sisters who have already learned how to grieve with hope. In so many ways, the relationships that have supported me through these difficult months are the inheritance I have received as the fruit of my father’s faithfulness, but they are also the good gift of my Father who knows how desperately I need the help of a rather large cloud of witnesses. Thank you, Lord.

Ruthie Munk is a member of the Work of Christ Community in Lansing, Michigan (USA). She is a music teacher and directs the choir at her local Greek Orthodox parish.

NOTE: Jerry Munk, Ruthie’s dad, edited and published the Sword of the Spirit’s booklet for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity since we began doing them in 2011. 

Day 2: Monday, January 19
BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:2

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear with one another in love.

Reflection

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live in a manner worthy of our Christian calling by providing profound social guidance. He calls believers “with all humility and gentleness, with patience” to “bear with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). This divine calling is not merely a personal journey but is vividly expressed in our interactions with others. The four virtues Paul highlights – humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance – are all crucial for nurturing loving relationships. To embody these virtues means approaching others with a spirit of genuine humility, extending gentleness even towards those who test our patience, and showing forbearance with those who challenge us. Most profoundly, it involves “bearing with one another” despite our differences, thereby reflecting a love that transcends all earthly divides and embodies the grace of God’s boundless compassion.

A question to consider

How can the virtues of humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance, as mentioned in the letter to the Ephesians, help us as believers navigate and overcome divisions within our local Christian communities?

Prayer of Response

Lord Jesus Christ, you show us how to be patient with one another in humility and gentleness. May the light you have shined on our path lead us towards unity and help us heal the wounds of division and indifference that often break communities apart. Amen.

Intercession

Gracious Lord, enable us to be gracious with one another. Grant that we would embrace the challenging people and circumstances you have put in our lives to help us grow in humility, love, patience, and forbearance. We in the Sword of the Spirit wish to be witnesses of unity in Christ and fulfill the call you have given us. Amen.

Witness: Ignacio Miranda

I was raised a Catholic, and it was in the Catholic Church that I experienced God’s personal love for me. But from an early age I also enjoyed a unique and exceptional ecumenical experience: my father welcomed Christians from different traditions into our home, sharing common projects, friendship and brotherhood with them.

One of the visitors was an Evangelical Christian, a distributor of the “Gideon Bibles”, with whom my father exchanged books. This brother even visited my Catholic school, to which he donated Bibles and gave occasional talks to the students, telling them about God’s love. This is how I came to realize that God loved and acted in different ways through Christians of different churches. I have always felt called to work for Christian unity.  

Today, besides serving in my community, I participate in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service (CHARIS) and in the Ecumenical Council of Santo Domingo. These two organizations function as a bridge within and between the churches, in a country where ignorance or indifference make it difficult to reach greater unity between Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic Christians. 

I thank God for calling me to the Sword of the Spirit and allowing me to meet brothers and sisters from different churches, and to appreciate the specific richness that each one brings to the greater mission we all have, to go out into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).  

All of us who believe in Christ are children of God (John 1:12). We are all called to overcome our divisions so that the world may believe (John 17:21). I try to walk step-by-step towards the unity that the Lord wants and pray that the thirst he has instilled in me may awaken in more Christians, that together we may see visible fruits of unity for the extension of the kingdom. 

Ignacio Miranda, and his wife Carolina, are part of the Body of Christ Community in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ignacio serves the community as one of the coordinators.

Day 3: Tuesday, January 20
THE BOND OF PEACE

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:3

Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Reflection

Peace is a crucial factor in maintaining unity within the Church. In Ephesians 4:3, the “bond of peace” signifies a vital and active principle that not only connects but also sustains the unity of the Christian community. Christ, the Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:6), preached peace and reconciliation. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), both a gift and a result of the Spirit at work. The “bond of peace” is an active force that maintains church cohesion, holding diverse members together, despite differences in background or opinion. Peace fosters meaningful relationships, allowing believers to interact harmoniously and to more readily forgive one another. Paul highlights the fact that true unity requires ongoing commitment to peace. It calls for active cultivation and promotion of peace among members.

A question to consider

How does St Paul’s teaching that peace is a fruit of the Spirit impact our daily interactions and relationships within our communities, especially where there is need for reconciliation or forgiveness?

Prayer of Response

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Prince of Peace. Strengthen the bond of peace among us and in our troubled world. Change the hearts of all who make war; touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by war. We pray especially for the people of Armenia and Artsakh, and their kindred throughout the world. Let the light of your love shine in all the dark places of our world and hasten the day when all peoples may dwell in peace with justice. Amen

Intercession

Holy Spirit, the giver of peace, help us work for peaceful relationships in our communities, churches, families, places of work, schools and neighborhoods. Give us grace to restore – as much as it depends on us – what has been damaged. Help us especially to relate in peace with those different from us. Amen. 

Witness: Sella Gokchenian Moughalian

I was born into an Armenian Catholic family and grew up attending the Armenian Catholic Church. My family was not deeply rooted in a spiritual foundation, but we attended church on special occasions. During that time, my prayer life was limited, and my understanding of Scripture was superficial.

In the year 2000, at the age of eighteen, a friend introduced me to the Illuminator’s Lamp Community. I still vividly remember my first visit. Being surrounded by joyful people worshiping the Lord with freedom and sincerity deeply moved me. I longed for such a vibrant, personal spiritual life and a living faith. Joining the community became the turning point in my spiritual journey. It led me to a deeper understanding of Christianity, a richer knowledge of the Bible, a more meaningful prayer life, and a greater awareness of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Within this community, I found genuine fellowship —people I could rely on for their unwavering love, care, and loyalty. Despite coming from a different church background, I was welcomed wholeheartedly. After some time, I met my future husband and invited him to the community. As he was Armenian Orthodox, I joined the Armenian Orthodox Church when we married. Throughout the years, community life helped me strengthen my relationship with the Orthodox Church. The Divine Liturgy began to hold new meaning. Holy Communion became a vital and cherished part of my spiritual life.

In 2006, I began working at an Armenian Evangelical School. I have had the privilege of leading worship and teaching God’s Word to students in a Protestant context. I have served in Vacation Bible School programs within different Evangelical institutions. Although it was in a different cultural environment, my ecumenical spiritual foundation built through the teachings and relationships in the Sword of the Spirit allowed me to adapt and share my faith freely.

Sella Gokchenian Moughalian, and her husband Vatche, have been married for twenty years and are blessed with a daughter and a son. They are members of Illuminator’s Lamp in Beirut, Lebanon.  Sella serves on the community’s women leadership team and oversees the Children’s ministry. 

Day 4: Wednesday, January 21
CALLED TO ONE HOPE

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:4

There is one body and one Spirit, 
just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:4, the Apostle Paul highlights the profound unity that binds the Church worldwide. This unity is rooted in the one Spirit and the one hope that connect all Christians in their faith. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit ignited the global mission of the Church. This same Spirit empowers us and nurtures our collective mission today, fostering a universal Church that transcends national and cultural boundaries. Our shared hope in salvation through Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this unity, drawing together diverse peoples into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. As Christians, we are defined by this singular hope and the one Spirit through whom we are baptized and renewed. Our task is to ensure that this unity is not just a concept but a lived reality, reinforcing our shared mission and love for one another.

A question to consider

In what ways can we, as a church or community, embrace the challenge of our one calling, while maintaining our unique identity and traditions?

Prayer of Response

 Jesus Christ, you have brought us together in all our diversity as your family and church. In the face of so many situations on earth where hope has given way to despair and wounded hearts, renew our hope in the Holy Spirit’s work of changing the world. Move us to spread this hope to everyone everywhere. You are the true Light, who casts out the darkness of sin, and shines into our hearts the joy and hope of your eternal love. Amen.

Intercession

Lord Jesus Christ our hope, we desire to be lights of hope in this dark world. Let our unity in the Sword of the Spirit inspire hope in us and those you are calling to join us. Help us reach out to those in need of hope, whether for salvation, healing, reconciliation, or physical needs. Let us imitate you, the “hope of the hopeless.”   -Amen. 

Witness: Terence Chew-Lau

I am greatly blessed to be a part of the Servants of the Lord community, which is the only ecumenical community in the Asian Region. While our membership is mainly Catholic, we have brothers and sisters from several other Christian traditions: Methodist, Anglican and Evangelical churches.

To me, the blessing of being in an ecumenical community comes from personal experiences of being loved and served by my Protestant brothers and sisters and being able to love and serve them in return. Until recently, Lim Tau Kok, a Methodist, served as our Senior Coordinator. He poured his life’s work into holding our community together, especially through many challenging times. He has demonstrated a level of generous, faithful, and persevering service which I have not encountered elsewhere. 

Worth mentioning too is one of the brothers in my men’s group, an Anglican. He has such a great thirst and hunger for God’s word that he continues to attend his church’s intensive, seven-years long, weekly Bible study program. The same is true with the other Evangelical Christians in our pastoral group—they continue to inspire me with their love for Scripture and their conviction that God will greatly bless and sustain them through all the ups and downs of life.

Of course, being in the Servants of the Lord community means that I must be ecumenically sensitive. For example, I must be careful with sharing aspects of my Catholic faith that might cause discomfort or unhappiness on the part of my Protestant brothers and sisters. Overall, I would say being in an ecumenical community has been a source of tremendous joy and has trained me to see other Christians through the eyes of faith. Indeed, we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord!

Terence Chew-Lau has been a member of the Servants of the Lord Community in Singapore for 30 years. He serves in leadership in the community.

Day 5: Thursday, January 22
ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:5

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:5, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that the act of baptism solidifies Christian unity by marking the entrance of individuals into the Church’s fellowship, affirming their shared commitment to the same Lord. Baptism creates the collective identity of the Church since we are one in the Body of the Lord. This sacrament serves as a powerful reminder that, while members may come from varied backgrounds, their unity in faith and baptism transcends all divisions. By focusing on these unifying elements, the Church can celebrate its diversity while remaining steadfastly united. This challenges us to prioritize our shared identity in Christ over our differences, reinforcing the bond that unites all Christians.

A question to consider

What collaborative initiatives can our various communities undertake to celebrate our shared faith in Jesus Christ and the unity established through baptism?

Prayer of Response

O Christ, the quickening fire, inflame our soul with the fire of your love that you dispersed over the earth, so that it may consume the stains of our soul; cleanse our conscience and our mind, purify our body from sin, and kindle the light of your knowledge in our heart. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on us, sinners. St Nersess the Gracious (adapted)

Intercession

Lord our God, grant us to embrace the unity we enjoy as baptized Christians, even through our differences. Increase our faith as individuals and as members of the Sword of the Spirit, as we pray for full unity among Christians. We trust in your perfect timing, and in your glorious work in our midst.   Amen.

Witness: Cal and Mary Ritchie

Belfast has a history of complex relationships within the Christian church, particularly between Protestants and Catholics, as traditional political differences often strain unity. 

 “Growing up, my dad’s side of the family was Protestant and my mum’s side were Catholic” – says Cal – “We attended a Protestant church which was, alongside Protestant youth camps, the place of my early Christian formation.” Mary adds, “I grew up in an environment dominated by Protestantism. I knew a few Catholics at school, but my household and area were largely from my same church tradition.”

Both were changed when they encountered UCO (University Christian Outreach) at university. When Cal got involved in UCO, “I was struck by the beauty of the charismatic worship, the relationship with Christ exhibited by the members, and the love they had for one another and for new people.” 

Cal says, “My faith was helped so much throughout my time at ‘uni’, that I joined UCO staff and the local SOS community. During my time in UCO, I invited Mary, my girlfriend (now wife), best friend, and three younger brothers into UCO and the community!” “Our ecumenical life was a great blessing to me,” continues Cal. “Some of my Catholic brothers impacted me immensely. Tony and Cedric, from Lebanon, prayed with me to receive the Holy Spirit and had innumerable conversations with me, teaching me how to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. I was inspired by the example of Cormac, a man who served God and others with such humility. I benefitted from the wisdom of Tadhg Lynch, a Servants of the Word brother in Belfast. Without brothers and sisters from different traditions, I do not know where I would be today.”

“I encountered Catholics in UCO whose fellowship and outlook enriched my understanding and experience of faith in Jesus,” says Mary. “I grew up with little knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit, and found my eyes opened by the brothers and sisters’ powerful and beautiful testimonies of the Spirit’s work and gifts in their lives. Another aspect of our ecumenical life is how we can bring together and express some of the best gifts of our various traditions: Bible study, charismatic worship, silent prayer, liturgy, and much more. It is as if many streams can feed into one lake. I am so grateful the Lord has brought me to being part of this movement.”

Cal and Mary are now members of Ballylesson Church of Ireland, part of the Anglican tradition. They live in South Belfast and are members of the Charis Community. Cal works for University Christian Outreach and is about to complete a master’s degree from Union Theological College. Mary is a physician. They have been married for just over two years.

Day 6: Friday, January 23
ONE LORD AND FATHER

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:6

One God and Father of all,  
who is above all and through all and in all.

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:6, St Paul emphasizes the profound oneness of God, declaring that he is “above all and through all and in all”. God is both transcendent, existing beyond all, and immanent, actively present within his creation. This foundational truth calls the Church to embody and live out unity, rooted in the shared belief in one true God who is the Father of all believers. “All” signifies that every person created in God’s image falls under God’s authority. Worshiping one God creates a strong bond of unity among Christians. Just as family members find common ground through their love for a parent, Christians are called to be united in their devotion to the same Father.

A question to consider

In what ways can the image of God as the loving and caring Father of all be integrated into the mission and ministry of our different church communities to promote a more unified Christian witness in the world?

Prayer of Response

We confess with faith and worship you, Loving Father, for you are in heaven beyond words, and on earth beyond understanding, through your Son, Jesus Christ. In your tender care, you are the beginning and fulfilment of everything. Glory forever to you, Father, with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  [ St Gregory of Narek (adapted) ]

Intercession

All Holy Trinity, thank you for the gift of worshipping together in unity. Let us not fail to come together to worship you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us more deeply love one another and present ourselves and one another before you as we worship. Amen. 

Witness: María Castillo Migueis

I have been part of the community with my family since I was born and, over the years, I have been able to experience how good it is to belong to an international ecumenical community. 

Despite always knowing what ecumenism was, I grew up in a completely Catholic environment (my school and all the members of my community are Catholic). For a long time, I had not been able to experience the grace of sharing with brothers and sisters from other churches, or how this could help me grow in my spiritual journey. 

I remember perfectly the first time I was able to experience the blessing of living in an ecumenical community. It was at a community gathering prior to World Youth Day in Poland, where young people from communities around the world came together. It was easy to see what made us different: different nationalities, languages, customs, etc. But despite all the differences, we were all in the same place and shared the same truth, which was greater than all our differences. We all believed in the same God, and that united us and made us brothers and sisters. 

Since then, I have been able to participate in many more gatherings where I have shared with brothers and sisters from different traditions. Each of these moments has been a true gift. 

In a world full of division, where differences are always in the spotlight, we cannot be promoters of this separation ourselves. Our prayer for the unity of God’s children must be constant, always focusing on what unites us and what we can learn from one another. In my experience, this is how we can deepen our personal relationships with the Lord. 

María Castillo Migueis is part of El Señorío de Jesús community in Vitoria, Spain.

Day 7: Saturday, January 24
GOD´S GIFT GIVEN IN BAPTISM

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:7

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Reflection

The churches and all local communities are diverse in their God-given unity, with grace given according to the gift of Christ building up God’s kingdom. These spiritual gifts are granted by one Lord, in one baptism, for one purpose. Diversity in unity: this is the unique, Christ-centered richness, and power of the Church in the movement of the Holy Spirit.

A question to consider

How will our relations change if we accept that diversity of gifts is not a reason for opposition and competition but for mutual strengthening and sharing?

Prayer of Response

Lord Jesus Christ, by the action of the Holy Spirit in the one baptism, you have bestowed wonderful graces and multiple gifts upon us for the sake of building up your Body, the Church. Grant us now the willingness to fully appreciate the richness of their diversity and use them fully to further the spread of the Gospel. In your name we pray. Amen.

Intercession

Holy God, thank you for the many and diverse gifts you have bestowed on the body of Christ. Let us in the Sword of the Spirit rejoice in the varying gifts you have given us for one another and for the body of Christ. May we appreciate with gratitude the blessings that each of us brings to build up our communities, our relationships, and our churches. Amen.

Lord’s Day Prayer for the Week of Prayer

Leader: Let us thank him this day especially for the unity we enjoy in the Body of Christ and for our call to ecumenical life in the Sword of the Spirit. May we all become perfectly one, so that the world may know and believe. Lord our God, you are bringing us into the fullness of unity through the work of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Group: Now we live with him through the Holy Spirit, and we look for the day when we will dwell with him in your everlasting kingdom.

Witness: Steve Maier

From the very beginning of my life with Christ, he has used men and women from various churches and traditions to bring me nearer to him. From my Methodist grandfather, my Catholic high school friends, and my unchurched younger brother who told me about his dreams of Jesus, I experienced the same thing: God reaching out to me through them. 

I could not understand it when I found animosity among us Christians. It was so far from my experience of how God had reached me. Over time I realized that when God placed me in his body, he called me to be a part of a broken family. I come from a broken family, and I have felt the pain of a family break apart. It is hard to see the worst of the body of Christ. We who were told to show Christ to the world in our unity and love for one another, instead bring shame on his name by our hatred. I know that God feels this pain and is faithful to heal. 

We who have experienced Christian unity have such an abundance of riches to share. People from all different walks and traditions in our body have sacrificed for me, encouraged me, admonished me, prayed for me. I have had Catholic friends defend me, a Protestant, from prejudice. I get to see that God has so generously poured out his Holy Spirit on humanity, and I meet him in people of many ages, races, languages, nationalities, traditions – is this not one of the most awesome shows of God’s surpassing power? We serve an abundant God. May all the world come to know it more!

Steven Maier is currently in seminary and is part of The Light of Christ Community in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA). Before this, he and his wife Sarah served for several years in our Sword of the Spirit outreach in Lexington, Texas. 

Day 8: Sunday, January 25
GROWING INTO CHRIST

Verse for the day: Ephesians 4:13

The gifts he gave were for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Reflection

In Ephesians 4:13 the apostle Paul summarizes the vision of the Body of Christ in three key areas: unity in faith, maturity in knowledge, and fullness in Christ. Maturity comes through an ever-deepening knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is life-changing knowledge that leads us to renew our minds and put it into practice in actions rather than just intellectual comprehension. We resemble him more and more as we get to know him better. To gain this knowledge, one must both study his teachings and live them in obedience daily. The “full stature of Christ” is the goal of Christian maturity. It means becoming more like Jesus in every way: loving as he loves, serving as he serves, and reflecting his character. We are called to evaluate our spiritual journey, seeking unity with each other, growing in our knowledge of the Son of God, and striving for his fullness in us.

A question to consider

How are we growing in our knowledge of Christ and allowing that knowledge to shape our actions, thoughts, and relationships?

Prayer of Response

O Christ, True Light of the world, make my soul worthy to see the light of your glory with joy on the day of my calling, and to rest with the hope of good things in the house of the righteous, until the day of your great coming. Have mercy upon your creation, and on me, a great sinner. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Intercession

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, give each of us the grace to grow into maturity. May we not shrink back from the road ahead but eagerly follow you to the end. Thank you for giving us excellent companions on the way. Use our prayers this week to deepen our love, unity, and gratitude. Amen. 

Witness: Sofía Maroto

I was born into a culture where being Christian was practically the same as being Catholic, and it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started meeting people from other churches. Later, during my college years, I met the community in Vitoria, where they began to talk to me about the importance of Christians being united as followers of Christ. 

Later, I was able to do a GAP year in Costa Rica (a year of volunteer missionary work), where I experienced ecumenism in community in a practical way through several Evangelical families. That experience was new, because in my community all the members are Catholic, although we work to open the community to brothers and sisters from other churches. From this stage of ecumenical formation, the phrase that has stayed with me is, “Everything that can be done together, do together, and only what has to be done separately, do separately.” 

At the end of my GAP year, at an international retreat, I met brothers and sisters from the Orthodox Church. I was able to understand better how, even in our differences in worship, the essence of prayer is the same, and it is a true gift to live in a large family where diversity only enriches us and makes us grow spiritually.

Thus, from my ignorance, the Lord was preparing me, showing me the beauty of ecumenism through community. Now, thanks to the Lord, my sister, who had been away from the Lord for a long time, has been able to experience a profound conversion through the Baptist Church. And I, with the grace of the Lord, have been able to be with her on this journey from the very beginning of her conversion, showing her the beauty of living in communion, the differences, and the essentials of Christianity. Now I thank the Lord because I can also live ecumenism in my family.

Sofía Maroto is part of the El Señorío de Jesús community in Vitoria, Spain. She serves the Lord and her brothers and sisters as the head of the children’s ministry. 

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Credits:

Based on the resource document jointly prepared and published by Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.   The scripture quotations contained  are from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, 1995, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used with permission. All rights reserved.

Imprimatur: Msgr. Georges Bacouni, Greek Catholic Archbishop of Beirut and Byblos.

Top Photo Credit: Dome of the Church of the Holy Angels in Aragatsotn, Armenia by Martin Browne/WCC. Text added on top by the WPCU Booklet Team of the Sword of the Spirit Ecumenical Commission.