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This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.
Due to the Mass being under copyright we are unable to provide a full transcript.Mass setting 鈥� Haydn
Hymn- Christ is the World鈥檚 light
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION聽
A very warm welcome to St George鈥檚 Cathedral in Southwark a few minutes walk from the London Eye and next to the Imperial War Museum.聽
The prayers for our Mass this morning are taken from the Mass for the Unity of Christians marking this special week of Prayer for Christian Unity. A time when members of all Christian denominations pray that we may work together to make the message of Jesus Christ real and present in the world.
FIRST READINGIsaiah 8:23-9:3
RESPONSORIAL PSALMPsalm 26(27):1,4,13-14
SECOND READING1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
GOSPELMatthew 4:12-23
聽THE HOMILY -聽The Most Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark
"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, for the sake of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united in your belief and practice.鈥�
In this week of prayer for Christian unity it鈥檚 a sobering thought that those words of St. Paul to the Church in Corinth in the middle of the first century remind us that even in its earliest days, the Church suffered dissension and differences. 聽 聽Even then, so close to the resurrection of Christ, there were conflicts between the truth proclaimed by Christ and preached by the Apostles, and the worldly 鈥榳isdom鈥� of some of the first believers. 聽 That historical fact challenges us to be realistic and to avoid any sentimentality or pseudo- piousity in thinking that the early years of the Church鈥檚 foundation were a 鈥榞olden age鈥� when the first Christian communities already lived a life of perfection. 聽 Sadly, over the centuries that history has been repeated to a greater or lesser extent time after time. 聽
I still vividly remember as a young lad in the early 1950鈥檚, hearing a rather fearsome nun telling us youngsters that it was gravely sinful to enter a Protestant church! 聽Boys being boys, how did we respond to that? 聽We searched out the nearest church and dared each other to go in. 聽Two of us did, just across the threshold, and then jumped back onto the pavement, and were mightily relieved when we weren鈥檛 struck down by a thunderbolt and suffered no other ill effects! Thank goodness that this thinking is a thing of the past!
For the Catholic Church the radical change came when Pope John 23rd in January 1959 announced his intention to call an Ecumenical Council with, among other things, the desire 鈥渢o invite the separated Communities to seek again that unity for which so many souls are longing in these days throughout the world.鈥� 聽 Today we thank God that following the Pope鈥檚 initiative, we鈥檝e come a very long way on the journey to reconciliation and unity, and it鈥檚 especially appropriate this year which marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther鈥檚 German Reformation; 聽the first time in history that the Reformation is being commemorated in a truly ecumenical age.聽
But we can still be tempted, from time to time, to wonder if our striving for the unity for which Christ prayed is rather a waste of time. 聽 What we need to remember is that enormous progress has been made since the Second Vatican Council. 聽 聽Sometimes we do forget, 聽and then we allow the difficulties of our journey together to get us down. 聽 We wonder perhaps whether it is all worth the effort and the frustration, the misunderstanding and the hurt which we have inflicted on each other down through the centuries 鈥� not so much through malice, please God, but simply through pride, blindness, and sometimes through human weakness.
We give thanks today that over the past 50 years we have come to recognise much more clearly that what unites all baptised Christians is far greater than what divides us. 聽Trust and fruitful relationships have grown hugely among Christian communities through patient dialogue and common action in working together. 聽 In coming to know each other better, many misunderstandings and prejudices have been overcome. 聽Having said that, our ecumenical journey towards full visible communion still continues today; 聽a journey in obedience to the prayer of Jesus Christ that we should be one 鈥渟o that the world may believe.鈥� 聽 We recognise more clearly now that we can and do work together to fulfil the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, caring for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable members of society, upholding the rights of prisoners and others who have no voice in society. 聽聽
We can and must do that, because Christianity doesn鈥檛 exist for its own sake but for the sake of humanity. 聽It has a public mission which must never be simply in safeguarding itself, but in enhancing and developing the common good, the growth, development and flourishing of society in the light of our common dignity as human beings.
Pope Francis has stressed that Christian unity 鈥渋s a gift from on high鈥�, an essential requirement of our faith, a journey of personal and community conversion to the will of Christ. Remember, he said, 鈥渢hat when we work, pray and serve the needy together, we are already united.鈥� 聽Today we give thanks to God for that gift and ask for the gift of his grace and presence as we continue our journey together to ever closer communion, with patience and determination, with hope and humility.

Celebrant: In humility we bring our needs to God our loving Father.
Reader:聽That the God of compassion may grant the Church the gift of light; so we may become more welcoming and understanding towards others, and so reduce the suffering in our world.Lord, in your mercy鈥� Hear our prayer
Reader:聽That the God of reconciliation may grant world nations the gift of peace;聽may he teach and guide us to be builders of a tolerant and non-violent world. 聽Lord, in your mercy鈥� Hear our prayer
Reader:聽That the God of mercy may teach all people that charity, hospitality and unity聽are expressions of his revelation and will for humanity.Lord, in your mercy鈥� Hear our prayer
Reader:聽That the God of unity, who spoke to us through creation, through the prophets and through his Son Jesus Christ, may grant us wisdom to listen to his voice; a voice that calls us to unity in our diversity.聽Lord, in your mercy鈥� Hear our prayer
Reader:聽That the God of eternal life may receive the souls of our brothers and sisters who have died recently. May they enjoy the peace of the heavenly kingdom.聽Lord, in your mercy鈥� Hear our prayer.
O nata lux de lumine 鈥� Thomas Tallis
Hymn 鈥� Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Hymn 鈥� Immortal Invisible
Organ Voluntary God is our refuge - Frederick Stocken