Greetings,
We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship’ (Matthew 2:2).
This verse is the chosen text for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated in Australia between this coming Sunday and Pentecost.
The text was chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches and comes from the gospel of Matthew and the story of the Magi following the star that shone in the East and led them to worship the baby Jesus. This Jesus, we believe, is both the revelation of God and saviour of the world.
Following a star is an ancient means of navigation. A star guides us to a place that is our destination. A star also is light in the dark sky – all symbolic of Christ as light to the world.
In Australia, the Southern Cross is the constellation that we have imprinted on our flag. It has cultural significance for the first peoples of our nation. It also has significance through the working class struggles of the Eureka stockade. Many of us as little children looked up into the night sky to find the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper and other patterns formed by the stars and planets. In the magnitude of the night sky, the Southern Cross provides us a reference point amidst the greatness of creation. The Southern Cross also points us to Jesus, the One who came as Emmanuel, God with us.
Let these words (adapted from Jesuit Carl K. Moeddel) be our prayer this week of
unity.

God of unity, grant that all may be one
as you, Spirit, Father and Son, are one God, one Lord.
Grant unity to the body of Christ and the human family.
Sole breath of every living thing,
may all be one who, in you, live and move and have their being.

Blessings – Heather.