Dear Preachers:
Have you noticed how many times the words “unity” and “one” are mentioned in our Ephesians reading today and last week? You suspect something is going on in the Ephesians community because why would those words be so stressed? In addition, don’t miss the repetition of “call/called” either, for these words, “unity,” “one” and “call” lead us to the heart of this letter.
Ephesians is addressed to a church not founded by Paul and is a summary of his teachings. (It’s believed that it was written after Paul’s death, possibly by one of his disciples.) The Ephesians were fragmented by false doctrines (4:13-16) and the letter calls them back to the basics of their faith; their union with Christ and one another through Baptism — it focuses on Christ and the Church.
The first part of Ephesians (chapters 1-3) is doctrinal. The second part (chapters 4-6) shows the ethical consequences of what we hear in the first part. Based on what God has done in Christ, we are now exhorted to unity. In brief, since there is one body and one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, “one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all,” then we are to live out that unity. But remember, first comes the gift of unity then, as a consequence of the gift, we can maintain and build on that unity by “bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace….”
In the first part the author established God’s plan to gather all things in Christ (1:10) and to reconcile Jews and Gentiles. Combining these disparate groups was very difficult, since the religious and social antipathies were ancient and very deep. However, the author’s plea for unity isn’t about uniformity. Is there a faith community anywhere in the world that is uniform? Our differences and unique gifts make us richer and better able to reach out to a diverse world in multiple ways.
Differences also make for conflict, strongly voiced opinions, suspicion, jealousies and withdrawal, clashing parties, etc. According to Ephesians, God’s grace has made all the difference, because it unifies us and enables us to do good works our life in Jesus calls us to (2:10). We share the same hope and so those called by God should live according to that hope and do what is necessary to preserve “one body and one Spirit.”
Is there a parish, religious community or diocese these days that doesn’t seem, at times, like it is going to tear apart? Change of leadership causes dissension in the ranks. A new translation of the Missal is promulgated and it stirs up anger and resentment, both in the pews and the sanctuary. What side ought we Christians to take in this current political debate and presidential race? Why don’t our young people embrace the faith and tradition “our generation” cherishes? Should we have 24-hour exposition of the Blessed Sacrament? Should we allow people with petitions to stand outside the church after Masses to collect signatures for this cause or that? Etc.
We don’t expect to draw specific answers from these scriptures to those and other issues which strain the fabric of our unity, do we? Still, their spirit empowers and guides us. In each generation our Church has been fractured and has struggled to hold together. The author of Ephesians traces the work God has done for us in Christ. We have received a calling from God and with it comes the grace to live up to that call. Having reminded us of that grace, Ephesians now exhorts us to conduct our lives accordingly so as to preserve the unity that has Christ’s life, death and resurrection as its binding glue.
We are like a ship in a storm. Everyone is running around, on deck and down below. Someone below, who can’t see what’s going on above, urgently shouts, “Is it holding together?” Someone on deck, with a better view of things, looks around and answers, “Yes it is — so far, with the help of God.” We look around at the strong winds and waves buffeting our Church. Some ask, “Is it holding together?” Using Ephesians as our lens today we answer, “Yes, with the help of God.”
What else can we draw from Ephesians? We know there is plenty to disagree about with one person or another, one group or another. But we need to put a cloak of meekness on our words and put aside the swords and shields of condemnation, personal attitudes and labeling — “real Christians” versus “false Christians.” The letter calls us to patience and a willingness to listen to one another in love, rather than intolerance. It’s clear from Ephesians that even our diversity is made one by God’s own oneness, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is overall and through all and in all.”
There is a boy in today’s gospel who is willing to share what he has with the hungry — John doesn’t say he was selling the fish and bread. There are some commentators who have a different take on the story than the one we usually hear. It is different, but let’s give it a hearing. They say that the real miracle in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes was that Jesus’ effect on the crowds encouraged them, like the boy, to share what they brought with one another. The result was that there was more than enough for all to have their fill.
It’s hard to say what actually happened, but don’t you at least find that interpretation fascinating? Those who have, share with those who don’t. That kind of behavior is at the very heart of Jesus’ teaching. What changes must we make so that others might have at least some? What changes must our nation make — in the light of our disproportionate consumption of the earth’s resources, our wealth and the high poverty rates in our country and throughout the world — so that our goods and resources can be shared equitably?
It’s hard to imagine such a large crowd not talking and swapping food as they ate . Isn’t that what we do at picnics? “Here try this fish, it’s delicious. How about a piece of bread?” What else would they have shared: family stories, other experiences of Christ, current ailments, friends they had in common, antics of their children, concerns about their country, etc.?
Sounds like a church gathering doesn’t it? We meet before and after Mass and catch up on the news, introduce ourselves to newcomers, meet friends of friends, talk about civic happenings, world events, natural disasters, sick relatives, etc., all because Jesus has called us together. We are so different from one another, but his call gathers us into one community. Here we hear our common family story in the Scriptures and share our family meal — the same meal for each of us, regardless of who we are and where we came from — and there is more than enough.