DAILY READING
REFLECTION
The Value of Unity
by Pr. Dave Mann
Yesterday’s reading emphasized the diversity in the body of Christ, i.e., each body member has a different gift or strength. Each with his/her own way of serving the Lord.
Today’s reading emphasizes unity, i.e., the necessity of each member finding greater strength by being joined in the body of Christ.
There are risks of living independently of each other. If we live separately, we will easily be “tossed back and forth by the waves, blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” The world is a dangerous place to live, but even more so if we venture out on our own.
Yes, the body of Christ needs our unique gifts, but we also need the body. We need the strength of being moored together so that we are not easily lured away by the most recent new idea that is shiny and sparkly. To withstand the world's temptations, we need to be “joined and held together by every supporting ligament.” The femur and the tibia may be important structural pieces of the body, but they cannot provide movement for the body if there is no connective material (ligaments, tendons, and fasciae).
Ligaments connect two bones.
Tendons connect muscle to the bone.
Fasciae connect muscle to muscle.
How can this unity happen?
First of all, we need to recognize that there may be disagreements between the various members of the body. In that case, we need to speak the truth in love. We may not agree with each other in every detail, but we share our differing ideas in a way that shows respect and love for each other.
Secondly, we recognize that we have not arrived at perfection yet. If we have not achieved full maturity, we still have room to learn and grow. As we learn from each other in the body of Christ, “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” We need to feel the freedom (even the necessity) to express our perspective in love. However, as one ligament moves a bone forward, we will also feel the tension on another bone that is pressed backward. As we move in rhythm, we work together for the good of God’s purposes.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for the special way that you have made me. Help me to find how you want me to be connected to others. I look forward to discovering how various gifts are intended by your plan to complement each other, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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