WHAT IS THE FATE OF OUR FAITH? (continuation) FAITH AND UNITY – LOVE AND FORGIVENESS BEGETS UNITY To emphasize the importance of unity Paul urged his Philippians brethren to love one another and be in one accord. He said thus: “I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love and being one in soul and mind.” (1012) Philippians 2:2. There is no doubt that Christian unity begets all virtues and so Paul will once again tell the Colossians as follows: “So you must cloth yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you” (1013) Colossians 3:12-13. Again, unity in this context means being there for one another showing love, kindness and being one another’s keeper. We must be concerned for one another, help one another to show love and to do good. (1014) Hebrews 10:24. This was demonstrated in the Acts of the Apostles when the brethren lived in peace, shared their possessions and lacked nothing. The writer of the Acts of the Apostles depicted this aphorism of unity when he said: “The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own but they all shared with one another everything they had.” (1015) Acts of the Apostles 4:32. The Christian unity is depicted in the concept of the love of neighbour, which is animated by the love of God. This is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the Christian family, but it is also a responsibility for the entire Church whether in the basic Christian communities, outstations, parishes, deaneries, dioceses, arch- dioceses and the universal church. The Church must teach its members the practical example of Christian love, faith and unity by caring for the needy and also those in one problem or the other. This concept is in tandem with the early Church whose unity and community life was one of the unique elements of its existence. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.” (1016) Acts of the Apostles 2:44-45. It is this community life that made it possible that there was no distinction between the rich and the poor in the early Church. According to Pope Benedict: “As the Church grew, this radical form of material communion could not in fact be preserved. But its essential core remained: within the community of believers there can never be room for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life.” (1017) See Encyclical Letter DEUS CARITAS EST of The Supreme Pontiff BENEDICT XVI to the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, men, and women, Religious and all the Lay Faithful on Christian love. Given in Rome, at Saint Peters, on 25 December, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, in the year 2005, the first of his Pontificate. Martin Luther King Jr., also said: “any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men (Well) and is not concerned about the slums that cripple the souls—the economic conditions that stagnate the soul (Yes) and the city governments that may damn the soul—is a dry, dead, do-nothing religion (Yes, Amen) in need of new blood.” (1018) Martin Luther King Jr. – “Why Jesus called a Man a Fool” - Delivered at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27 August 1967. It was in order to ensure this unity of faith in diversity that marked the origin of the diaconal office in the Church. (1019) Acts of the Apostles 6:5-6. Let’s continue to pray that the love of God which has been instilled in us will inspire us to forgive one another and move us to show love to our brothers and sisters.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:30:20 +0000
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