October 21: Division vs. Unity

We often pray and work for unity. Let’s remember, however, that real unity can only be said to exist when there is a harmonious relationship between a variety of elements. Unity is not the same as uniformity. The Church has never promoted the development of “identical clones” who do and say everything alike! The distinction between unity and uniformity has always been crucial in the life of the Church. Unity is life-giving and uniformity is not.

Unity always involves becoming more accepting and understanding of each other “with all humility, gentleness, and patience,” as St. Paul says often. We can do this by bearing with one another through love and by being aware of the unity of the Spirit, shown by the deep ties of peace that bind us together. Such peace is a sign of the Spirit at work among us, and it is a truly inner peace that radiates outward – and not just an external “absence of conflict.”

In his Letter to the Ephesians, for example, St. Paul insists that there is one Body, that is, the Body of the Church with Christ as its unifying Head: with one Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, given to us in Baptism; made up of a people called together in one shared hope, a confident assurance that we will one day enjoy a glorious future of happiness without end, face to face with God; with one Lord, Jesus Christ; with one faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel; and sharing in one Baptism, publicly marking us as members of the community. Ideally, with such bonds linking the members of the Church together, there can be no place for disunity, division, or conflict. Please God, make it so!

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