Bishop Wester highlights Christian values during Jan. 19 events

Intermountain Catholic

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The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, preaches the homily at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Mark on Jan. 19 to mark the Week of Christian Unity. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi and Dean Ray Waldon, the cathedral's rector. IC photos/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — Jan. 19 marked the beginning of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, celebrated that theme at three faith gatherings while reflecting on the need for Christians to come together.

Bishop Wester began the public portion of his day at the Cathedral of Saint Mark in Salt Lake City, where he preached the Gospel at the invitation of the Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, who celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the 10:30 a.m. service.

The two bishops decided the "pulpit exchange" was one way to publicly display their belief that Christians of various denominations share witness and fellowship, and can work together.

On Feb. 9, Bishop Hayashi will preach at the Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, with Bishop Wester presiding.

Bishop Wester opened his homily by expressing profound gratitude to the Rev. Dr. Reginald H. Fuller, an Episcopalian who was a New Testament scholar. His 1984 work Preaching the New Lectionary: The Word of God for the Church Today "is the first source I go to," Bishop Wester said, adding that Fuller helped form his priesthood and "has been an influence in both the Episcopal and Catholic churches and beyond."

All three of the readings for the day – Isaiah 49:1-7, 1Cor1:1-9 and John 1:29-42 – express the theme of unity, Bishop Wester said, "which is at once a gift from God and yet it requires us to strive always to achieve its full realization. … Unity is not simply one of many other themes but it is essential to salvation itself."

Because sin separates humans from God, "God sent his only Son to redeem us by destroying sin and uniting us once again with God and one another," the bishop said. "Unity and salvation, then, go hand in hand. The Cross is the ultimate unifier."

Christians, by their very nature, "are called to be one as God is one, made in his image," Bishop Wester, said. However, despite great strides being made in Christian unity, some issues remain, he said.

To promote unity, Christians should center themselves in Christ, acknowledge his love, and then reach out to one another, Bishop Wester said, pointing out that at the beginning of John’s Gospel the disciples stay with Christ, but at the end they abide in him.

"We must allow this unity with Christ to be the catalyst that moves us to be united with one another," Bishop Wester said.

Jan. 19 also was the eve of the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Bishop Wester recounted the story of the time that King received a hate-filled call at his home, then sat alone at the kitchen table and prayed, telling God that people were looking to him for leadership and he was at the end of his rope.

At that moment King felt God’s presence as he had never felt it before, Bishop Wester said, and "that unity with God … gave him the strength to be the great unifier that he is in our world, and Christ will do the same for us."

Bishop Wester also urged all Christians to respond together to the Gospel call to reach out to the poor and the homeless in ways that include supporting immigration reform, promoting health care for all and care for the environment.

Also, in their personal lives, Christians should strive to create unity, offer reconciliation, break down stereotypes, and recognize the good and dignity in every single person, Bishop Wester said.

A few hours after preaching at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Bishop Wester attended the annual Rosary for Life at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

The Rosary for Life, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity all express different aspects of the dignity of life, Bishop Wester said, and prayed that country and the world will have respect for all of human life, from conception to natural death.

"We pray to Mary, that she will guide us. She is the mother of all; she intercedes for us, as mothers do for their children. We ask Mary to intercede on our behalf and to pray with us and for us, that we might be able to defend life in all its forms," Bishop Wester said.

At 5 p.m., Bishop Wester celebrated Mass at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Alta. Christian unity was the topic of his homily.