Many people believe that true power lies in being able to dictate their will over others. Some regimes exercise power by the domination of a person, or group of persons, over the rest of the community. They do this by flourishing nuclear weapons as a means of supremacy, by amassing great wealth and by suppressing freedom of expression.
But this belief soon becomes an illusion, and these persons and regimes end up in destruction. I believe, as many others do, that true power lies in dialogue. Dialogue builds lasting relationships that bear the test of time.
During an event of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, in 2002, Chiara Lubich shared her thoughts and experience:
“Dialogue is carried out first by putting ourselves on the same level as our partner, whoever he or she may be. Then we listen to our dialogue partner, being completely empty of ourselves….this enables us to receive the other person within ourselves and to understand him or her.....because they have been listened to with love, they are ready to listen to what we have to say.”
Let us take advantage of our day to day contacts to enter into a dialogue and to deepen or re-establish relationships in the different social spheres. I believe that these efforts, made with true charity towards our neighbours, will lead towards a new world order, that of universal fraternity.
Christians Together in Malta (Malta Ecumenical Council), in collaboration with the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission will adopt the following theme for its annual ecumenical prayer service:
“Your right hand, O lord, glorious in power.” (Ex 15:6)
This is the theme that has been chosen for this year’s octave for Christian unity by the World Council of Churches.
One sure way of dialogue is praying together, for the gift of unity, offering ourselves as instruments of love to build bridges between different peoples.
The Ecumenical Prayer Service will be held on Friday, January 19, at 6.30pm at the Collegiate Church and Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady, Senglea. Everybody is welcome.