The One and the Many in the Church

Diversity produces chaos when it is not bound together by unity. Any entity comprised of parts must have a common direction lest it crumble back into its individual components. It is no different within the Church. Throughout ecclesial history, the shared unity of the Church has often been threatened to disintegrate by the tension found in its diverse members. However, though battered and beaten through the ages, the Church has successfully held fast to its apostolic unity in the tumultuous waters of this world. Ironically, it can be said that the unifying nature of the Church is seen in the diversity of its members, a diversity that comes together to form the one unified body of Christ (c.f. 1 Cor 12).

In one resurrection account (c.f. Jn 21:1-14) the evangelist records how the fisherman of Galilee, at the direction from a Stranger on the shore, pull in a catch of 153 fish. Although the men struggle to pull in such a heavy, large quantity of fish their nets do not tear. According to St. Jerome, in the ancient world there were 153 known types of fish. In effect then, what the gospel is signifying by the number 153 is the reality of the newly commissioned Church's vocation: it is to be a mother that brings together all people of every time and place, regardless of their differing backgrounds, regardless of their differing personalities, into its protective ark. All men are called to union with Jesus the Lord, a union to be had by being incorporated into the one mystical body of Christ, which we call the Church. Yet the question ought to be asked: What prevents the body from breaking by the tension wrought by such diversity found in its differing members? How can such a sweeping catch not tear the net?

The cohesion of the Church remains intact because it is rooted in the heart of God who desires all to be one (c.f. Jn 17:20-22). Concretely this union is solidified by the foundation of the Church being built on the Apostles and their appointed successors (i.e. the bishops) who were given the charge to teach, sanctify, and govern the people of God. To narrow the Church's unity still further, a focal point of leadership is to be found in the person of St. Peter, who, as the visible head of the disciples of Christ, was given the keys to the kingdom (c.f. Mt 16:19, Is 22:22) alongside the duty to feed and tend Christ's sheep (c.f. Jn 21:15-17). But the individuality of Peter's unique position (and subsequently a position inherited by the bishop of Rome) to unite the flock of Christ does not oppose the various vocations of each Christian as he goes out of the Church and into the world. In fact, Peter's individual mission and the corporate mission of the congregation work together. In order for there to be unity within the body, the members must take their lead from the head. Also, in order for there to be unity within the body, the head must appreciate the diverse functions of the members. In the words of Pascal: "Plurality which is not reduced to unity is confusion; unity which does not depend on plurality is tyranny."(Blaise Pascal, Pensees, #871).

The dual essence of the Church analogously imitates the triune essence of the Trinity as being simultaneously one and many. It is a union that exists through multiplicity. Love can only exist in such a situation where multiplicity distinguishes the "I" from the "You" and unity brings the multiplicity together to form a "We". Without diversity in the Church, there would be only one way to correctly follow Christ, but -equally unfortunate- without unity in the Church, there would be diverse ways to erroneously follow Him.

There also seems to be an element of great beauty found within the Church when a unified diversity exists. St. Therese of Lisieux liked to imagine us Christians as flowers in the garden of Christ (c.f. The Story of a Soul). If we were all as stunning as roses or as eye-catching as lilies, our brilliance would drown each other out. The beauty of Christ's garden has the inconspicuousness of lush, green ground cover mixed in with the brilliance of bright flowers and sweet scents. Does not a good painter often contrast the brightness of some colors alongside the subtlety of others? Likewise, the Church has many members of varying holiness, yet one is never lost in the crowd to the sight of the all-perceiving eye of God. To the contrary, one's splendor is found within the wider view of the masterpiece as a whole, as each one grows into being a unique manifestation of the goodness of God in the world.

Teilhard de Chardin invites us to reflect: "What is the work of works for man if not to establish, in and by each one of us, an absolutely original center in which the universe reflects itself in a unique and inimitable way? And those centers are our very selves and personalities...In any domain- whether it be the cells of the body, the members of a society or the elements of a spiritual synthesis- union differentiates. In every organized whole, the parts perfect themselves and fulfill themselves"(The Phenomenon of Man). What is this "work of works" that drives us forward to becoming an utterly specific encounter with the world around us while at the same time unites us with our fellow followers of Christ? What is this paradoxical element that differentiates disciples while simultaneously uniting them together?

Although each has been affected by sin in a different way, one's vocation to rise above sin and partake of the divine nature (c.f. 2 Pt 1:4) is what unites him with the Church as a whole. "Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me'"(Mt 16:24-26). This invitation of Christ is what unites Christians with each other, but what it looks like when each heeds this call will differ.

"The sacrifice of Christ is repeated, or re-echoed, among His followers in very varying degrees, from the cruelest martyrdom down to a self-submission of intention whose outward signs have nothing to distinguish them from ordinary fruits of temperance"(C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain). Great acts of heroism and small acts of virtue have their place within the unity of the Church. Yet, the common goal of achieving holiness- or what might be called whole-hearted devotion to God- is what unites all followers of Christ, for there is no saint who has not had a sinful past, nor is there a sinner not called to a saintly future. This message preached from Rome and realized only by the grace of the Lord in individual lives is what brings all men together as brothers and sisters.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus"(Gal 3:28). Far from losing oneself in conformity to the abundant catch, one truly finds oneself by being caught up in the fishermen's net.