Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Today, on the feast day of martyrs Cornelius and Cyprian, we are instructed by St. Paul on the unity of the Church. We also hear these words in the midst of a world torn apart by violence. The reality of the martyrs is upon us: our sisters and brothers are daily loosing their lives for their profession of faith in Christ. It seems that, at this point when it seems that the world could not be more torn to pieces, it is important that we listen to the words of Paul very closely.
I would assume that we are all fairly familiar with the normal “body” language when speaking about the Church. Even so, St. Paul is offering a very specific image of the Church: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so are Christ…Now the body is not a single part, but many.”
What Paul is describing is something called a “complex unity.” What does this mean?
Well, a “simple unity” is a unity of homogeneity. All parts that make up the whole are identical. Everything is the same. Diversity or difference among the parts would cause the “simple unity” of an organism or organization to break down. Think of a big, boring corn field. What keeps that corn field together and alive is based on everything being the same (its called a “mono-crop” for a reason). But, this unity, due to its simplicity, is very weak. Should another plant emerge, or certain kinds of insects enter this corn field, its unity breaks down, its health plummets, and the entire field of corn dies. Its unity therefore become artificial as it is forcefully maintained by synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Compare this to a forest. The unity and cohesion that defines a forest ecosystem is one of profound diversity. In fact, with in a forest the more “complex” its unity is, the more vibrant and healthy the overall health of the forest is: the individual members of the forest ecosystem benefit, not by becoming identical to the organisms which surround it, but by learning to function in harmonious relationship to the members which are different than them.
Or put another way, the unity Paul is describing for the Church is like that of a symphony: there are many different instruments and parts to the music, but all come together in complex harmony. This image of simple unity is far different the one present in a clarinet ensemble, all playing the same notes, at the same time.
The unity of the Church does not overshadow the particularity of individual persons; on the contrary, St. Paul suggests that she requires it. This diversity does not negate the one-ness of the Church, instead it reveals a vibrant and more complex unity.
To a world torn apart by division and violence, which regards difference and diversity as a threat, St. Paul calls on us to contemplate the unity present in the Church. Salvation gives birth to a common yet diverse people, a singular body extending through both space and time. This Body bears a sacramental character; it is the embodiment, the very workings of grace made present in human history. Continually being gathered together by Christ, this Body offers her unity as salvation to a dispersed world, so that found in communion with the Body, one is in communion with Christ, her Head.
- Tyler DeLong