Saint Paul instructs us concerning the unity which is found in Christ. The four marks of the Church are that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. To proclaim that the Church is “one” is to be found in agreement with Saint Paul who stated that “a body is one though it has many parts.” The Church is one because its source is God the Father, its founder is God the Son, and its soul is God the Holy Spirit. The Church is thus found to be one in its faith, one in its worship, and one in its leadership.
As Saint Paul goes on to state in his Epistle: “But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body.” We are told elsewhere in sacred scripture concerning division. Quoting from the Gospel of Saint Mark: “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Therefore I hope that we do not allow division to enter into our life and into our practice of faith. Division does nothing more then destroy the unity that Christ instituted within the Church.
Again the Church is one in its faith, one in its worship, and one in its leadership. Yet so many reject this oneness to chase after their own self serving motives. To be one in faith is to be one in our belief of doctrine and yet how many act as of they know more then Christ and His Church. Accepting what they want to believe and pushing off that which is difficult. To be one in our worship is to realize the importance that is proclaimed in the Mass which is the same here and throughout the world. Yet there are those who seek to reject the Church’s liturgy for other self serving forms of worship. The Church is one in its leadership and yet we seek to be individuals rather then one body who are united with Christ as our head.
We find ourself to make up this local parish of Saint Francis in Townsend, but we cannot forget that we are only a part of the Diocese of Knoxville which is only a part of the universal church. It so easy to become forgetful of such a fact as we chase after our own local interests without concerning ourself with the interests that make up the Church. Again the Church is one. We are united under the leadership of a pastor, the bishop, and the pope to serve this oneness that Christ instituted on this earth.
Next weekend will be commitment weekend for the annual bishop’s appeal. Some dread this weekend and don’t understand why they should support something other then their local parish. Again the Church is one and we are hopefully connected to this oneness which is our faith. The bishop’s appeal goes onto support so many wonderful ministries which not only assist this parish in some way, but also assist the needs of those throughout the diocese.
Through your support you will assist this diocese in supporting Catholic Charities, the formation of its clergy and seminarians, its formation of its youth, young adults, and adults in the life of faith, in matter of justice and peace, as well as the support of our mobile clinic. Truly to support the annual bishop’s appeal is to support the oneness which makes up our Catholic faith.
