Be United

26 Jan

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.  (1 Cor 1:10)

St. Paul was mystified that the early Christian community could so easily divide itself because different factions within the community pledged themselves to different people: Paul, Cephas, or Apollos.

Perhaps it was so difficult for Paul because he had already gone through his own soul-searching and divisions as he first fought Christians and then as he became one of them himself after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus.

After that encounter, he did all that he could do to lead people to Christ.  To think that the people he led would divide themselves was difficult for Paul to bear.

Sadly, we often allow divisions into our own lives.

We pledge ourselves to different people and, in the process, often find ourselves drifting from one another.

Let us take up the admonition of St. Paul to be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.  That can only be accomplished if we unite ourselves in Jesus Christ.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray for unity, that those who allow themselves to be separated from the faith community because they belong to one faction or another may come together once again.