This year’s theme for Interfaith Week is ‘Lighting the Way for a Shared Future’.
Interfaith Week (Nov 8-15) honours the contributions made by faith groups, celebrates the richness of religious diversity and opens us up to forming relationships across difference. It is a time to build understanding and draw people into interfaith learning.
As part of our Countering Hate, Cultivating Hope project, we are sharing a series of theological reflections throughout the project to explore how the Christian faith can respond to division, challenge hate and build communities that are more connected.
In this reflection, Danielle Azanuwha, CHCH Project Coordinator for the Diocese of Liverpool, reflects on God’s promise of a hopeful future. Drawing on Scripture, we are invited to think about how celebrating diversity and simple acts of love and kindness can be a transformative light in a dark and divisive world.
The Power of Light
One of the most frequently quoted verses regarding the future is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. While often read individually, the “you” in this passage is in fact plural.
God’s promise of a hopeful future was delivered to an entire community living in exile. It serves as a reminder that our destinies are intertwined, and God’s ultimate plans are designed to prosper us together. The verse was not a promise of immediate comfort or personal success but a reassurance of long-term restoration and divine faithfulness.
Gods hearts desire has and always will be for us to live in unity with each other, to demonstrate his love in action through acts of kindness and compassion.
During the process of this project, I am consistently reminded of this verse, and I believe there is still hope for that shared future together. I see this through the physical acts of the word I believe holds the key and has so much power and that word is ‘Love’.
The bible references the word Love between 310 and 801 times depending on translation. Love is translated from 3 Greek words and 2 Hebrew. Agape, Phileo, Strage, Ahab, and Hesad. The words all relate to a Love that is friendly, kind, affectionate, sacrificial, unconditional and relational.
I live in hope because even though the world feels divisive, I still see love in action on a daily basis across communities. Little sparks of light sprouting up within darkness.
Simple actions like a warm and sincere welcome, a smile, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, true acceptance.
This power of light and love was even more prominent when I attended Liverpool’s annual River of Light event. This year’s theme is togetherness – the use and power of light to connect people through shared experience, creativity and joy.
As I stood in St Paul’s square with my own family, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the lights that were dancing in the nightlight. The light transformed the square to create a vacuum of pure joy. The song all you need is love was playing in the background as the flowers and lights danced to the melody all I could see was joy. Families, friends, strangers standing side by side, smiles everywhere. No hate could be seen; no animosity could be felt just love.
The next light installation stood within the gardens of St Nick’s Parish church. It was a beacon of light on a hill that simply read ‘Today I love you’
But what if it didn’t just have to be for today what if it could be always for a shared future together?
In the New Testament Jesus says the greatest command is to Love each other.
As we journey together in this process the simple thing we must do is follow Jesus in this commandment. If we do this and grasp that True love for God equals true love for all his people. That Love transcends above all hate in fact it can’t hold hate, then what a shared future we really could anticipate and create.
We don’t need to lose our individual identity. The biblical model for a shared future celebrates diversity while maintaining a single purpose. Every individual brings unique strengths, skills, and perspectives to the table. A shared future is realized when these diverse gifts are harmonized rather than suppressed. When individuality is celebrated and accepted.
When we truly live in unity, and create a shared vision, diversity and collaborative action. That is when a community transforms its collective faith into a tangible, thriving future.
In summary, let go and let God do his work, let your light shine through the daily acts of love. If we all stand together in love and unity shining our light then collectively those lights will become a powerful source that will break the bind of hate and division.
