That Church is to be united – and it should be that “there be no divisions among you” – yet that was not the case in Corinth – for division is rife – Those that claim to follow Paul – or Apollos – or Cephas – rivalries and different goals and agendas – what is it that can hold the Church united? - It might be an old problem – but it is also a problem that can be seen today – for some, it is all about social justice – we must feed the poor and house the homeless – and indeed, we must have the preferential option for the poor.
Some are all about pro-life – the dignity of human life that must be defended from conception until natural death – fighting against all laws and policies opposed to life – the march for life was Friday – and this is good. We must defend the value of all human life. - And then there are all the splits and arguments about liturgy – Latin or the Vernacular? Organ? Piano? Or Guitar? – Hymns? Chant? Polyphony? Folk songs? Simplicity? Solemnity? It can seem the liturgy becomes a series of tribes fighting for their own preferences. How are all of these to “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” – How is the Church united? - Perhaps this can be considered by looking at an experience everyone has – Friendship. What holds a friendship together? - Aristotle, living in Athens 350 years before Christ, considers what makes a true friendship, considering three types of friendship.
The first form is a friendship of utility – based upon the benefits one receives – the relationship is beneficial and productive. If benefits cease for either party, it ends – An example of this kind of friendship could be a business relationship – it is based on both sides making money. One might like their boss at work, and their boss might like them. However, if the company is not making money, that job disappears. Different committees and political groups can fall under this banner; it is about effectiveness – and there is no true unity, as when times get tough, the benefits disappear, and the relationship ends. – Utility and effectiveness cannot be the basis of unity. This form of friendship comes up short.
The Second form that Aristotle notes is a friendship of pleasure – no longer is the relationship about productive output, there may not be utility to the relationship – but it is about enjoyment. A good example here would be acquaintances that we see and various events. We may enjoy their company – they are funny and tell good stories – but we are not about to depend on them in hard times. This could be those one plays golf with or a book club. If the relationship stops being enjoyable for either party – the relationship ceases. – There is no true unity here, for it is based on something fleeting, what one happens to find pleasant – Just as utility and effectiveness cannot be the basis of unity, so also enjoyment cannot either – A true friendship, with true unity, must be based on something more profound.
These two forms of relationship have gotten us no closer – but Aristotle provides a third. A friendship which is a partnership in the good life – focused on virtue and that which is good – including the good of each other. What unites the friends here is not utility and effectiveness – but the shared care for a higher third – the good life - virtue. These are close friends –holding together even when things cease to have utility or be pleasant. A great example is marriage – bond together towards the good, whatever might happen – united towards a higher third. Here is true unity and true friendship.
With this understanding of friendship – what does it say about unity in the Church? It must be based on something like that third form of friendship – focused on a higher third– but what Could that be? Aristotle can no longer help us – he lived 350 years before Christ – but where is found the good life? That virtue that Aristotle was looking for? St Paul can guide us – the answer lies in Christ. We are baptized into Christ; it is Christ who has saved us by his death and resurrection - we receive Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity at the Mass from this altar - we celebrate the Holy sacrifice of the Mass – the source and summit of the Christ life – for it is Christ – love of Christ, worship of God and the salvation of souls – here unity is found – in Christ.
All those different groups that can be divisions in the Church? They are good, but they must be put in the context of Christ. Social Justice? We are not Catholic because we care for justice; we pursue the preferential option for the poor because we are Catholic and our love for Christ – If it is all about social justice, it becomes about effectiveness and utility – but unity must come from something higher. Our care for the poor and marginalized flows from and points back to the Eucharist and Christ and Christ’s love of the poor and marginalized – the highest good where unity can be found. - Pro-life? – again, we are not Catholic because we are pro-life- we are pro-life because we are catholic. The march for life is good, we pursue the protection of all life, and we must - but this flows out of our love for Christ and Christ’s love for all human life. The Church cannot be about mere effectiveness but about the good – about our love for Christ
And the liturgy? We should give our best and have a worthy celebration of the liturgy – but it is not about our preferences – it is about what is being celebrated – no one should come to Mass merely because it fits their preference – of language, music, or liturgical style – but instead to participate in the worship of God, the celebration of the Mass, the representation of Christ’s offering to the Father – It is the liturgy that is the source and summit of the Christian life – not just something that fits our preferences.
The Church in Corinth was rife with division. – And St Paul was calling them back to “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” – found in Christ, who we were baptized into, who we receive at communion, who is our love. So it is also today – unity for the Church is only found in Christ – if anything else becomes the point, divisions will follow. – Let us follow St Paul’s admonition – turning to Christ.