Elya Good News
Ecumenism
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“EAST IS EAST AND WEST IS WEST”
WHEN THE TWO STRONG MEN MEET
(Adapted from the Welcome Greetings of Bishop John A. Elya, then
Eparch of Newton to the ENCOUNTER OF THE EASTERN CATHOLIC
CHURCHES OF AMERICA AND OCEANIA, at the Vesper Service celebrated
on November 7-11, 1999, at the Annunciation Cathedral, Roslindale, MA.)
"Oh! East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet."
In my humble opinion, this famous passage of the Ballad of East and West
by Kipling has been too often partially, negatively, blindly quoted and,
consequently, misquoted. Please listen carefully to the remaining three
lines of this famous verse:
"Oh! East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet,
Till earth and sky stand presently at God's great judgment seat.
But, but, But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor
birth,When two strong men stand face to face,
Though they come from the ends of the earth."
( Kipling, the Ballad of East and West)
There is no East nor West when two strong men, such as Paul VI and
Athenagoras, John Paul II and Bartholomeos, Cardinal Law and
MetropolitanMethodios in their exchange of visits at the feasts of St. Peter and
Paul and of St. Andreas respectively; there is no East or West when these
heroes of the
Christian faith with innumerable other strong men and women stand face
to face, eager and willing to work toward the bypassing of the barriers and
borders and breed and birth.
If we are strong in faith and love, there is no East nor West. "For
through faith you are all children of God. For all of you who have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are
all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)
Part of the vision that the Holy Spirit has given to Pope John Paul II
in His leadership of the Church into the third millennium is the reunion of
the two "strong men" (quote unquote) of East and West face to face.
The Holy Father is convinced, (and I believe it is the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit), that the Church of the Third Millennium can, will and must again breathe
with "two lungs".
However, distinct and of equal importance as they are, must breathe in unison
as one; otherwise the poor person would choke to death.
Could you imagine the two lungs pulling apart in order to affirm their so-called
distinct identity and their specific importance?
Anytime we walk and work together, God is with us. Anytime we pull apart
in disunity, we break the heart of God. Because "God is love" and He loves
us all.
"God is love, and when we abide in love we abide in God and God
in us." Said the beloved disciple John.
Shall we keep ourselves apart in discord and, thus, confuse God's
Love?
With whom of us shall he side? In whom of us shall He dwell.
How often the first line of the Kipling's Ballad is candidly quoted but not the full
stanza.
And how equally often have we accepted the division-or worse exaggerated the
division without a fervent effort of unrelenting prayer and risky love.
NO LONGER!!!
There is a conditional quality to this prayer from the heart of Jesus --- "May they
be One.... SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE".
(St.John 17)
There is a clear connection between our effectiveness in continuing the
mission of Jesus on earth and our unity. We have made progress but we
have much farther to go.
Let us give all we can to promote the cooperation and unity of the "two strong
men," East and West, right lung and left lung, right hand and left hand, Orthodox
and Catholic.
Christ is calling us to unity, "so that the world may believe."
WHEN THE TWO STRONG MEN MEET
(Adapted from the Welcome Greetings of Bishop John A. Elya, then
Eparch of Newton to the ENCOUNTER OF THE EASTERN CATHOLIC
CHURCHES OF AMERICA AND OCEANIA, at the Vesper Service celebrated
on November 7-11, 1999, at the Annunciation Cathedral, Roslindale, MA.)
"Oh! East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet."
In my humble opinion, this famous passage of the Ballad of East and West
by Kipling has been too often partially, negatively, blindly quoted and,
consequently, misquoted. Please listen carefully to the remaining three
lines of this famous verse:
"Oh! East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet,
Till earth and sky stand presently at God's great judgment seat.
But, but, But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor
birth,When two strong men stand face to face,
Though they come from the ends of the earth."
( Kipling, the Ballad of East and West)
There is no East nor West when two strong men, such as Paul VI and
Athenagoras, John Paul II and Bartholomeos, Cardinal Law and
MetropolitanMethodios in their exchange of visits at the feasts of St. Peter and
Paul and of St. Andreas respectively; there is no East or West when these
heroes of the
Christian faith with innumerable other strong men and women stand face
to face, eager and willing to work toward the bypassing of the barriers and
borders and breed and birth.
If we are strong in faith and love, there is no East nor West. "For
through faith you are all children of God. For all of you who have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are
all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)
Part of the vision that the Holy Spirit has given to Pope John Paul II
in His leadership of the Church into the third millennium is the reunion of
the two "strong men" (quote unquote) of East and West face to face.
The Holy Father is convinced, (and I believe it is the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit), that the Church of the Third Millennium can, will and must again breathe
with "two lungs".
However, distinct and of equal importance as they are, must breathe in unison
as one; otherwise the poor person would choke to death.
Could you imagine the two lungs pulling apart in order to affirm their so-called
distinct identity and their specific importance?
Anytime we walk and work together, God is with us. Anytime we pull apart
in disunity, we break the heart of God. Because "God is love" and He loves
us all.
"God is love, and when we abide in love we abide in God and God
in us." Said the beloved disciple John.
Shall we keep ourselves apart in discord and, thus, confuse God's
Love?
With whom of us shall he side? In whom of us shall He dwell.
How often the first line of the Kipling's Ballad is candidly quoted but not the full
stanza.
And how equally often have we accepted the division-or worse exaggerated the
division without a fervent effort of unrelenting prayer and risky love.
NO LONGER!!!
There is a conditional quality to this prayer from the heart of Jesus --- "May they
be One.... SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE".
(St.John 17)
There is a clear connection between our effectiveness in continuing the
mission of Jesus on earth and our unity. We have made progress but we
have much farther to go.
Let us give all we can to promote the cooperation and unity of the "two strong
men," East and West, right lung and left lung, right hand and left hand, Orthodox
and Catholic.
Christ is calling us to unity, "so that the world may believe."