MISSION AS AN INVITATION FOR LIFE

Abstract

1. Harare Fears and Hopes The first statement I would like to make is that Eighth Assembly of World Council of Churches in Zimbabwe, Harare, helped us to put an end to many of our fears. What were concerns that made us await assembly in fear and trembling? I shall just mention but a few. Would recollection of past years be present to this assembly: Amsterdam (1948), Evanston (1954) and so on? Could we keep alive memory of those that preceded us in ecumenical journey? The 50th anniversary of WCC moves us to share things that we have heard and known that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide from their children; we will tell coming generation glorious deeds of Lord and his might, and wonders that God has done... (Psalm 78:3-4) Besides, could we gather experiences of Faith and Order meeting held in Santiago de Compostela? Would continental demands of whole Gospel and Cultures study process be incorporated in agenda? What challenges coming from case studies of Theology of Life will go into mission practice of new millennium? Will Ecumenical Decade of Church in Solidarity with Women end abruptly, without any consequences for life of our churches? Will assembly be able to bring a true ecumenical commitment concerning unity? Or will our divisions instead continue to spread prejudices, regrets and unjustifiable judgements, which open gulfs of separation between us? 2. Living Water On my way to Harare I kept reflecting on all this. The Festival of Decade surprised us as an ointment of certitudes and future projects for action. The Festival was full of colors and waters springing from fountains and jars, like life-giving waters described in Ezekiel 47. For Festival we used as a symbol. It is presented in text from Ezekiel - as origin of life, where of temple (47:1), which represents fusion of and sacred, becomes a river which carries fecundity wherever it reaches. The power of water (47:8) overcomes infertility of foul waters, bringing life to them (47:9). The theme of Harare assembly Turn to God, Rejoice in Hope is closely associated with image of God as living water: They have forsaken me, a of living and they have hewn out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. (Jer. 2:13) As we turn to God, this stream of living will flow out. It will triumphantly as an outburst of plant, animal and human life. This will mean a victory over anything that is hostile to life: foul salty waters will be fresh and clean, barren ground will become a wonderful land of fruit trees, and all diseases will be cured. As New Testament states, streams of living flow out from within Jesus to give life to anyone who is thirsty and needs it. (John 7:37-39) Those who respond to his call and seal it with their baptism, receive life by virtue of Spirit. Is it not marvellous? There is an association between air, wind, spirit and water... The text about and spirit in Ezekiel reminds us of dialogue of Jesus with Nicodemus (John 3:1-15) which refers to need of being born over again, that is, need for a new birth. The passage refers not to resurrection but to new birth. And this new birth takes place in bosom of fertilized by Spirit. Water symbolizes mother's womb that has been fertilized by Spirit. It is out of and Spirit that new life springs: new creature is born. In Harare, taking sides with spring of living water, we condemned violence in all its forms, we advocated the equality of Christian disciples, we denounced economic injustices, and we held one another's hands - white hands with black hands and marginalized indigenous hands - against racism. …