Today I watched the most amazing historical event of my life! As we prepare to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther and the Reformation, Pope Francis and leaders of the Catholic Church along with the head of the Lutheran World Federation and global Lutheran leaders jointly presided in a shared prayer service to celebrate the fruits of 50 years of ecumenical work between the Catholic and Lutheran churches. The leaders of these two great religious groups in the presence of leaders from many denominations and believers from across the globe came together in Lund Cathedral a former Catholic cathedral which became a Luther church in the Danish Reformation (Lund was Danish until 1658 and became Swedish).

Leaders from both groups called on their members everywhere to work together to continue moving from “conflict to communion. “ They stressed that what these faiths share is far greater than anything which divides them. They asked that ecumenical work, signs of love and peace, joint outreach to each other and to the world, help lead the world to greater faithfulness and the churches into common communion. Each acknowledged errors of the past and asked for forgiveness. They pointed out that our tendency to focus on what separates us, to exaggerate differences and to vilify one another has kept us from focusing on the faith we share and the grace which should abound. Please watch a replay of this prayer service if you have an opportunity.
As I watched the children’s choirs, one in red robes and the other in blue, I couldn’t help but see maps of red states and blue states. As I listened to leader after leader talk about a more loving, peaceful and faith-filled future together, I couldn’t help thinking about how badly we need this right here and right now. One church sign recently said, “Jesus is coming soon. Let’s pray that it’s before the election ends.”
The good news is that Jesus is already here. God’s Spirit moves among all of us. Like the Lutheran and Catholic churches, everyone on the right and the left, Republican, Democrat and other- shares a great love of this country, believes in freedom and liberty, and wants to see a better life for us, our children and grand-children. It will require a great deal of love, communication (especially listening and understanding), building trust and faith, but if we focus on what unites us and do not give way to exaggeration, vilifying one another and focusing on what separates us, we too can come together for a greater future. I pray that my conversations and Facebook posts take up the mantel lifted high by the Catholic and Lutheran churches today. I pray that we will indeed, all be one – united in our diversity.
Read John 15: 1-17 and abide in the one who loves you UNCONDITIONALLY and gives us the ability to love one another.  

Mike
Today’s reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A+1-17&version=NRSV