22 December, 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of
the same mind in the Lord,” (Philipians 4:2). Disagreement is part and
parcel of ordinary life. We may have different opinions from the trivial to the
circumstantial to the fundamental. Who is the best actor or actress? What would
be the best policy to combat unemployment? What about the “Filioque” clause in the Creed? Mary and Martha seemed to have
different priorities, yet both dearly loved their Master. St Paul didn't see eye to eye with Peter, and
yet both served the Risen Lord. And if we further look into the history of the
Church and, indeed, the history of civilization, we will notice that
disagreement is no stranger to human affairs.
But what to do
when we disagree? St. Paul, no doubt based on his own experience as well as
following the Spirit's directions points out to us a new way, “Be of one mind.” Seek commonality –
seek those things that we hold in common – rather than stressing our difference
of opinions or understandings. This is not yielding to a position that in good
conscience one would not be able to hold. Rather, while holding to one's own
perspectives, differences are to be understood in the context of things held in
common. When we face differences, the apostolic urging then, is to highlight
how much and how foundational is what we, as Christians, have in common – our
common hope in God, our common baptism in the Death and Resurrection of the
Lord Jesus, the common empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and our
belonging to the same Body of the Risen Lord. This is what we have in common
and what makes us – in spite of whatever differences we may have – members of
each other. We are members that can be never separated from each other or from
the Body of Christ. We can never say that we have no need of our fellow brother
or sister, (1 Corinthians 12:21).
Differences
tend to separate us. Love and belonging is what draws us together. Besides,
having a different viewpoint can be very constructive and life-enhancing. We
can only see in three dimensions (and thus having a sense of depth and space)
because each one of our eyes has a unique viewpoint. It is our brain who
processes those different perspectives into one image that we can really use
for our own good. Having two right or two left eyes would be no good at all. It
is only when such differences are processed in the context of the unity of our
human brain, that new and powerful vision allows us to reach our full potential
as human beings.
We may have
different viewpoints about what has been St. Paul's experience over the last
few years. We may have different opinions about how issues should have been
handled. We may have wished a different outcome. That's fine, as long as we
realize that we cannot be absolutely certain that having made changes sooner
rather than later, or having handled issues in a different way, would have
resulted in a better or a different outcome. We may have got our own way, yes.
But, in the end, what is it most important – our way, or God's way?
And God's way
is what should draw us to unity, knowing that even having different opinions we
can never be enemies, for God's desire is “to
create in His body one new humanity from … opposing groups, thus creating
peace. Effectively, the cross becomes God’s means to kill off the hostility
once and for all so that He is able to reconcile us all into Christ's one new
Body,” (cf. Efesians 2:15-16, The Voice).
Brothers and
sisters, be of one mind. Let us remember how much we do have in common. Let us “Kiss one another with the kiss of peace,”
(Romans 16:16). and let us use our energy, our gifts, our drive, and our vision
for reaching out those who need to hear the Good News of God in Christ.
Let us go
forth into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Faithfully,
Fr. Gustavo
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