First, it is not lost on me that I divided my thoughts about Jesus's line "that all may be one" into two parts! So, that is why I decided to title this Part 1A, instead of 2 (click here for Part 1)! Part 1A is in a separate post because 1.) I hadn't written this part yet, and 2.) it would have made last week's post even longer!
Jesus desires communion with us and that we have communion with each other. This is why He was sent by the Father: to bring us back into right relationship with our Father, and for us to come into right relationship with each other.
That all may be one.
This unity with God and with each other, though, does not mean uniformity.
St. Paul (Ephesians 4:1-6) riffs on this idea of unity in the following manner:
I...urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
God has called us to Himself and we need to live accordingly in relation to both God and each other. We have been called uniquely and individually, yet to the same Spirit: one Body, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. In God, we find a brotherhood and sisterhood deeper than any familial bloodlines.
This call to the same Spirit requires that we approach each other with humility, gentleness, patience, and love. It entails striving and persevering.
In short, it demands hard work.
But, we need not rely on solely on our feeble human efforts, abilities, and personalities. Be encouraged: God our Father supplies us with grace sufficient for this work and any work to which we are called!
St. Paul continues (Ephesians 4:7):
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The Holy Spirit infuses us with what is needed in order to commune with others and with God. Invoke this divine direction through prayer and participation in the sacraments, which are efficacious - meaning effective - signs of God's grace (CCC #1131). Come, Holy Spirit. Amen!
Finally, as we draw together in communion with each other and with God, we will come to better understand and accomplish our mission. St. John Paul II demonstrates the interconnectedness of mission and communion writing, "(C)ommunion and mission are profoundly connected with each other, they interpenetrate and mutually imply each other, to the point that communion represents both the source and the fruit of mission: communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion" (1988, #32).
If we are to accomplish the work to which we have been called, we will need God and others. And, this unity of mission depends upon a plurality of gifts that are shared within a community.
St. Paul concludes (Ephesians 4:11-13):
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature (personhood), to the extent of the full stature of Christ.
May we partner with God and each other so "that all may be one" in our Catholic schools, in our communities, and in our world.
We truly are better together.
Together as one.
References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). (1997). http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1131.htm
Pope John Paul II. (1988, December 30). Christifideles Laici. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html
