* * * * * (September 13, 2014: John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) * * * * * “We, though many, are one body…” In his Treatise on the Love of God, St. Francis de Sales wrote: “The supreme unity of the divine act is opposed to confusion and disorder but not to distinction and variety. On the contrary, it employs these last to bring forth beauty by reducing all difference and diversity to proportion, proportion to order and order to the unity of the world, which comprises all things, both visible and invisible. All these together are called the universe perhaps because all their diversity is reduced to unity, as if one were to say ‘unidiverse,’ that is, unique and diverse, unique along with diversity and diverse along with unity. In sum, God’s supreme unity diversifies all things and his permanent eternity gives change to all things…” (TLG, Book II, Chapter 2, p. 106) Every body – be it our physical bodies, our families or our churches – is made of a variety of things. Every body– be it our physical bodies, our families or our churches – works best when each and every part does what it is designed and destined to do. Each and every one of us makes up some part of the Body of Christ. The fact that no two of us are exactly the same actually makes possible the unity toward which Jesus challenges us to work. In this fact, we experience a great paradox, perhaps the greatest of all. It is only when each of us is fully and authentically our unique selves that unity with others is truly possible. Put another way, unity is not the same as uniformity, i.e., being exactly the same. Where everything or everybody is the same, there can never be true unity. Just this day do you want to do your part to contribute something to the unity of any body – be it family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or church goers – of which you are a part? Then simply try your level best to be your unique self. And allow – even encourage – others to do the same!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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