many-splendored unity
"Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin." —Ephesians 4:3
To live lives worthy of our calling as Christians, we must become one as Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are One (see Jn 17:21). We are called to live in divine, Trinitarian, multi-faceted unity. There are seven major facets to our unity with God. "There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all" (Eph 4:4-6).
These many facets themselves are multi-faceted. There is one bread and one body when we receive the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion (1 Cor 10:17). In Christian community, we are "of one heart and one mind" (Acts 4:32). In marriage, the husband and wife "are no longer two but one flesh" (Mt 19:6) as they grow to be more deeply of one heart and one mind.
Unity is like a diamond of divinity and Trinity. Unity from God's perspective is pure simplicity. From our human perspective, unity is a rich complexity. Unity is a mystery and a "great gift of the Holy Spirit" (Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People, Pope John Paul II, 20).
Let us live lives worthy of our call to be one through, with, and in Him. We were created and redeemed to be one. Let us "make every effort to preserve" and deepen our love in the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:3).
Prayer: Father, "how good it is, and how pleasant, where brethren dwell at one!" (Ps 133:1) Give me a heart for Trinitarian unity.
Promise: "Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain." —Ps 24:3-4
Praise: St. Anthony continued to preach Christ in the face of several assassination attempts.
Reference: (For more teaching on unity, order our booklet, Introduction to Small Christian Communities.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 24, 2014
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