Topic: Unity

Jesus calls us to move beyond hostile identity politics, whether shaped by Sabbath keeping or #Outrage, and to welcome a new culture of love, forgiveness and welcome.

The doctrine of the Trinity helps us to see that, though exalted and transcendent, God is nevertheless close and personally involved with us.

God has promised the whole world to all God’s children, but not exclusive rights to some bits of it to some people.

When Jesus exposes our aversion to having others recognised as our equals, he calls us to repent and celebrate God’s generosity to all. The marriage equality debate exposes another frontier of his challenge to us.

Jesus calls us to welcome and honour each other at his table regardless of the disagreements we may have over how to apply biblical teachings.

Because we really don’t have the whole truth, the Spirit will be heard only when we are together, listening to one another in love.

Christ is present to us in love, unity and reconciliation, and thus these are essential to our worship.

Jesus calls us to give up the illusion that we own God’s blessing, invite others in, and be despised for doing so, giving up our privileges to build a world that all can share.

How might the biblical witness and the Eucharistic meal set before us shed light on our sense of vocation, on the offerings we seek to bring, individually and collectively?

The unity before God which we all desire is not yet the reality, but a pledge, of which our gathering is also a sign, but its fulfilment is yet to come.

In Christ we are one with all flesh and blood, and so our struggle is not against any other people, but against the spirits and powers and forces which would divide people and make them enemies.

Jesus breaks down the barriers that divide us into pure and impure and removes the cause for the fear that marginalises people.