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Pope John Paul II once compared visiting the monastic community of Taizé to being refreshed by “a spring of water.” And thousands of people, many of them young, continue to seek its refreshment each year.
The thriving ecumenical community of a 100 monks - from different Christian Churches and about 25 countries – in central France, was founded by the Swiss Protestant Pastor Brother Roger in 1940, both as a sign of reconciliation and unity among Christians and also to offer a sanctuary to war refugees.
Last month, two Brothers – Brother Matthew and Brother Ghislain – visited Melbourne to bring a message of “Joy, compassion and forgiveness” as they led workshops, and also worship, in several venues, including the Anglican Church of St Stephen’s Richmond, in the distinctive Taizé style of simple, heartfelt chants, scripture reading, prayer, silence and meditation.
At the University of Melbourne, Brother Matthew said, in commenting on John 15:10-13, that “Joy is at the heart of our lives as believers… Such a joy is not something we create on our own. And this reading from John would seem to confirm this. Jesus invites his disciples to abide in his love. They will do this by keeping his commandments, by listening to his words and acting upon them. Listening to Jesus and remaining in his love are inseparably linked and mutually dependent upon one another.
“The purpose of Jesus telling his disciples this is so that his joy may be in them and that their joy may be complete. He wants them to experience the fullness of life which is expressed in joy. The commandments of v.10 are reduced to one commandment in v.12, what in Chapter 13 Jesus called the new commandment:
‘Love one another as I have loved you.’
“Jesus said these words just after having washed the feet of the disciples, the sign that he loved them to the end, and that he was ready to give his life on the cross for them.
“When we respond to Christ, we are invited to mirror that love. This kind of love is not simply an emotion or feeling, a kind of sympathy for others. It is much more – the gift of our whole self in acts for others.
“The Love that Jesus shows to us, engenders… happiness and transforms us within so that we can love as he loved.”
Two young Melbourne Christians, Anglican Heidi Bryce, a member of St Alban’s North Melbourne, and Roman Catholic Brigid Murray helped to organise the Brothers’ visit. Ms Murray, who lived at Taizé for eight months last year, told TMA that living in community had taught her to trust others and also trust that she was being accepted, “and that together we could fully realise the commandment of Jesus – to love one another.” (See box left).
For a listing of churches offering Taizé services see: www.taize.fr/en_article3489.html
or email heidi.bryce@gmail.com