Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025Sample

Waiting for the Kingdom and the life to come

Patristic Reading

From the Syriac tradition
Whoever lives in love in this creation breathes the life coming from God. While yet in this world, he breathes the air of rebirth. In this air the righteous will delight at resurrection. Love is the kingdom whereof our Lord mystically promised the disciples that they would eat in his kingdom: “You shall eat and drink at the table of my kingdom.” What should they eat, if not love? Love is sufficient to nourish a man instead of food and drink. This is the wine that gladdens the heart of man. Blessed is he who drinks of this wine!
- Isaac of Nineveh [7th century], First Collection, 43

For reflection:

1.Love will be the reality of the Kingdom of God. Concrete actions of charity make this Kingdom present in our lives.

2.Living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, how do we embody signs of the coming Kingdom in the world today?

3.We are called to be ready for the second coming of the Lord. How do we prepare ourselves for it?

Prayer

Let us pray.
O Lord, hasten the coming of your great and glorious day!
In our darkness, many men and women no longer dare to hope.
Protect the flame of faith in the hearts of the weak and the suffering.
May the Church be a faithful herald of the victory of Christ your Son over death
and a beacon of expectation for his return in glory.
He is the Living One, with you and with the Holy Spirit.
now and forever and ever. AMEN.