One in Christ: Building Unity Through Love

The Call to Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3) 

The Apostle Paul writes to us in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 1 through 3: 'I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' 

Paul's words, written from imprisonment, carry a particular weight. Despite his chains, his greatest concern was not for his own freedom but for the unity of the body of Christ. He 'urges' us—he earnestly implores us—to walk worthy of our calling as Christians. And what does this worthy walk look like? It is characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. These virtues are not merely suggested; they are essential to our Christian vocation. They are the pathway to the unity that Christ himself prayed for in John 17 when He asked that we 'all may be one.'

The Foundation of Our Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Paul continues in verses 4 through 6: 'There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.' (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Here we find the theological foundation of our unity. It is not built upon human preference or tradition alone, but upon divine realities that transcend our individual experiences. As the Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches us: 'The Church has but one ruler and one governor, the invisible one, Christ, whom the eternal Father hath made head over all the Church, which is his body; the visible one, the Pope, who, as legitimate successor of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, fills the Apostolic chair.'

The Catechism further emphasizes this unity when it states: 'The Church is called one, because, as the Apostle says, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There is one ruler of this Church, one invisible ruler, Christ; and one visible ruler, he who legitimately holds the Apostolic See.'

These seven unities that Paul enumerates are not of human origin. They are divine gifts that precede any effort on our part. We do not create unity; we receive it. Our task is not to manufacture unity but to maintain it—to 'keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' As the Tridentine Catechism reminds us: 'The Church, therefore, is to be one, not twofold, and to endure until the end of time.'

This unity already exists in the mind and heart of God and is safeguarded by the Magisterium of the Church. Our calling is to make this unity visible in our common life together, adhering faithfully to the teachings handed down to us through the Apostolic Tradition.

Love: The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:35-40)

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35 through 40, we read: 'And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."' (Matthew 22:35-40)

Here, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals that love is the fulfillment of the law. When asked to identify the greatest commandment, He does not point to a ritual observance or a doctrinal formulation, but to love—love of God and love of neighbor.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent expounds on this beautifully, stating: 'The love of God and the love of our neighbor are the two principal commandments on which depend the whole Law and the Prophets.' It further teaches that 'charity is the fulfillment of the law,' and reminds us that 'the faithful should be moved to the love of God by the consideration of His infinite perfections no less than by the innumerable benefits which He has bestowed and still bestows on us.'

Regarding love of neighbor, the Tridentine Catechism instructs: 'The love of our neighbor should not be confined to those who are united to us by ties of friendship or blood, but should embrace all mankind, for they are all children of the one Heavenly Father, redeemed by the same blood of Christ, called to the same eternal happiness.'

These two loves are inseparable. As the Catechism affirms, echoing Scripture: 'If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.'

Love, then, is the bond that maintains our unity. It is the virtue that enables us to bear with one another's weaknesses, to forgive each other's trespasses, and to seek the good of the other before our own. The Catechism tells us that 'charity is patient and kind; charity does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.'

Practical Ways to Strengthen Our Unity

How, then, do we put these principles into practice? How do we strengthen the bonds of unity within our congregation? Let us look to the saints who have gone before us, who exemplified these virtues in their lives.

First, we must pray for unity. St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) teaches us that 'prayer is an act of love,' and through her reform of the Carmelite Order, she showed how prayer builds unity even amidst great opposition. Her persistent prayer and gentle determination brought renewal without causing schism. Like her, we must make unity a central petition in our prayers.

Second, we must practice the virtues that Paul enumerates: humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance. St. Philip Neri (1515-1595), known as the 'Apostle of Rome,' exemplified these virtues through his joyful humility. Though he could have wielded great influence, he chose instead to serve with gentleness, using humor to defuse tensions and build community. His Oratory became a center of unity in a divided time.

Third, we must seek to understand before seeking to be understood. St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) converted thousands of Calvinists back to the Catholic faith not through harsh polemics, but through patient dialogue and genuine love. As he wrote, 'Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.' His approach to disagreement can guide us in our conversations with one another.

Fourth, we must be quick to forgive and slow to take offense. St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902), in her final hours after being fatally stabbed, forgave her attacker and expressed concern for his soul. Her forgiveness eventually led to his conversion. Though most of us will not face such extreme circumstances, her example reminds us of the transformative power of forgiveness.

Finally, we must serve one another in love. St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) organized the laity to serve the poor and abandoned, creating systems of charity that transcended social boundaries. He showed that practical service creates bonds of unity that theological arguments alone cannot achieve. As he said, 'Let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.'

The Catechism of the Council of Trent reminds us that 'charity, which is the fulfilling of the law, should always rule and direct us.' It further teaches that 'the faithful are bound to live in perfect union and peace with one another,' for as members of one body under Christ our Head, 'we should love one another with mutual charity.'

One Body, One Spirit in Christ

We are called to be one—not in uniformity, but in unity; not in sameness, but in harmony. Like the members of a body, we have different functions, different gifts, different perspectives. But we are united by one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Let us, therefore, 'walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.' Let us endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us, bearing with one another in patience and humility, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us.

For when we live in unity, we bear witness to the truth of our faith. As our Lord Jesus prayed, 'That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.' (John 17:21)

May God grant us the grace to be one in heart and mind, that we may glorify Him with one voice and serve Him with one purpose.