Devotion

Bishop's Ecumenical/Interfaith Bus Tour

March 2-4, 2007

Centering

"I have community with others and I shall continue to have it through Jesus. The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more surely will everything between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.¹) (day 1)

"Nothing is more central to most religious traditions than hospitality toward the neighbor, even toward the stranger. But we also know too well that our suspicions of neighbors, nurtured in an environment where walls are many and bridges few, can create the climate in which neighbors become enemies overnight, as we have seen so tragically in multiethnic nations around the world." (Diana Eck, A New Religious America) (day 2)

"At the heart of community, as we learn to care for our brothers and sisters, there is forgiveness. Reconciliation is at the heart of community. To grow in love means that we become men and women of forgiveness, of reconciliation. ...Community is a place of pain, of the death of ego. In community we are sacrificing independence and the pseudo-security of being dosed up" (day 3)

Psalm Prayer
Night and day, all creation declares your glory,

Holy God.

Yet you call us into covenant

And reveal your will for our lives. Your perfect instruction renews life;

Your commands can be trusted. In humility may we serve you, 0 Lord.

Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

Scripture John 4:19-30

Reflection
1. What is interfaith in this story?

2. How do we engage with people with other faiths?

3. What is the celebration in this gospel story?

Community Prayer

"We feel small and weak, but we are gathered together to signify the power of God who transforms deaths into life. That is our hope, that God is doing the impossible: changing death to life inside of each of us, and that perhaps, through our community, each one of us can be agents in the world of this transformation of brokenness into wholeness, and of death into life." (Jean Vanier, From Brokenness to Community^

Blessings

I honor your gods

I drink at your well

I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place

I have no cherished outcome

I will not negotiate by withholding

I am not subject to disappointment -Celtic vow

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Guiding Principles for Interfaith Engagement

• all human beings are equivalent with equal rights and also equal duties,

• human happiness lies in love and in returning in that love to the divine Ultimate Reality,

• confrontation should be replaced by collaboration in mutual respect,

• real human freedom consists in having the interior capacity to do what is commonly considered as right and to refrain from what is commonly considered as wrong,

• intercultural and interfaith dialogue leads to a mutually enriching union and in the long run will lead to a more universal homogeneity and a final global unity,

• support of education and science should be the fundamental aim of all development aid assistance,

• all wars and acts of violence are a loss to all,

• limitation of arms-production, traffic and possession is the shortest way to peace and to a peaceful society,

• a common universal language, besides one's own native should be promoted as a much needed carrier for smooth worldwide communication,

• the treasures of our planet (oil, gas, minerals, etc.) should be considered as he property of the whole of humankind and should not be the sole property of nations which happen to be geographically situated above or near to some of these treasures. A tax on those who profit from these treasures should be levied and used for the common welfare of humankind.
Mission for the Interfaith Bus Tour

1) Better mutual understanding.

Dialogue is only possible when we respect each other's individuality. Thus, knowledge of others in their cultural setting is essential. By recognizing and accepting social, cultural, and religious diversity, an exchange of mutual values and a union in collaboration ultimately will lead to the unity of humanity.

2) Spiritual growth of humankind.

Everything is actively involved in a continuous growth process toward a better world in an ever-higher intellectual and spiritual environment Teilhard de Chardin). The awareness that all people belong to the same family through their common Origin and Destination should lead to a higher universal responsibility to put this into practice in our lives.

3) Faith communities' potentialities.

The inspiring role of the leaders of world faith communities is of prime importance in our efforts to create a better world order in peace and in justice. Their churches, organizations and institutions are, in their cultural and philosophical traditions, the organizations par excellence to proclaim and sustain universally accepted moral principles.

4) No-exclusivity.

The tenets of world religions and other faith traditions have their roots in their native culture, have developed on the basis of their culture's philosophical and moral concepts, and have approached and proclaimed the faith in transient expressions and in culturally appropriate ceremonies. As pilgrims always on their way to new discoveries and subject to change, no faith community should claim exclusive representation of the Truth or superiority.

6) Testifying instead of converting.

The world religions should move from their "approach of converting" to an "approach of testifying." The essential elements of one's own faith should be presented in a language understandable by the local faithful, so that the dialogue between the world religions and traditions will lead to a bettor mutual knowledge and understanding, and to an exchange of mutual values in order to enrich one's faith and that of others.

6) Meditation

In the passionate search for the truth and a more comprehensive approach to spirituality, meditation should be re-evaluated and practiced to engender a deeper awareness of the Divine presence. Meditation crosses all religious boundaries and is universally shared and accepted. Meditation in silence should be part of all interreligious encounters.

7) Global collaboration.

People involved in interreligious and intercultural dialogue must remain aware of and concerned about our world's escalating ecological, social, economical, and financial problems. Solutions are only possible by a global collaboration between the faith communities and the world of politics/economics.

Diana Eck's Points of A New Religious America:

1. A Visible Difference, 2. Stereotypes: The scratches on our minds, 3. Afraid of our neighbors: "Not in this neighbourhood!", 4. Vandalism and Hate crimes: Targeting the soul, 5. Working it out: The workplace and Religious practice 6. Religious Freedom debate in court.