Yangon: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concludes with ecumenical prayer service

Myanmar Christians celebrated the closing ceremony of Prayer Week for Christian Unity at Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral in Yangon, Myanmar, at 5:00 pm (local time) on January 25.

The program of the prayer service comprised of the opening speech, singing hymns together, singing from different denominations, prayer in the form of a litany, scripture readings, collection, sermon and reflection, and closing remarks.

Auxiliary Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye of Yangon Catholic Archdiocese preached based on the Gospel from Lk 18:1-8 which is about the widow’s persistence.

Bishop Noel said the unjust judge knowingly enjoys his system, injustice, and power over the people. On the other hand, the widow had no one to depend on. There is no one to speak on her behalf. But she asks for justice courageously without discouragement.

The prelate emphasized verse 8 of the Gospel, which tells us that the Lord will avenge all the injustices, but when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on Earth? With this word, Bishop Noel encouraged the participants to be firm in their faith and persevere till the end of the world.

“For our perseverance and to be firm on our faith, we are to pray constantly after the widow’s example,” Bishop Noel urged.

Recalling the theme of the week for prayer Christian Unity which is “Do good, Seek Justice,” Bishop Noel highlighted that we are to keep on doing good and strive for justice as far as we can till we reach our destination. 

“Probably, our prayer may not be strong enough. We are to be united in faith,” the bishop continued.

Indigenous people, those under the yoke of slavery, the migrants, and the refugees are understood as parts of the mystical body of Christ. Prayer was specially offered for them in the occasion.

Mai Kay Thi Min Din, a Baptist Pastor, delivered the thanksgiving speech by expressing her gratitude to all those who organized the event in the cities and in different locations of the country.

“Although it is not possible to have the unity service weekly or monthly, we see that a time of January 18 to 25 yearly is a sort of divine grace for all the Christian Churches to get together,” the pastor noted.

More than 200 people from different Christian denominations participated in the closing ceremony of the week of Christian Unity. - By Hubert Saw