We live in a time of significant division and conflict, within the world, within American society, and within the Church. Polarization is the word of the day, especially as we in the United States move toward a national election this November.
In this context, Paul’s concern for unity within the body of the Church at Corinth in today’s first reading speaks powerfully. As Paul describes it, their meetings are doing more harm than good, since when they meet as a Church there are divisions among them. And perhaps even more shockingly, he says, When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. The Corinthians’ divisions are such that their celebration of the Lord’s supper, meant to be a celebration of communion in the body and blood of the Lord, has ceased to be such!
It is worth reflecting on what Paul’s words mean for us today, especially regarding divisions within our families, within our local communities, and within the Church, the Body of Christ. How do I—how do each of us—contribute to building up the unity of the Body, neither fomenting division nor ignoring differences through fear of conflict, but truly encountering one another under the guidance of the Spirit, so that unity prevails over conflict (Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 226–30)?
Today, let us pray through the intercession of Saint Paul and our two saints of the day, Cornelius and Cyprian, that we as the Body of Christ might overcome division and conflict through the help of the Spirit, and so come to that unity which God alone can achieve.