From the Friars: Holy Diversity

What do a surly old man who lives in a cave, a spoiled and sensitive French girl, formidable invisible bodyguards, a charismatic Italian troubadour, a simple Polish peasant woman, and a thin kindly German guy have in common? They are all part of the saints and angels in Heaven and are celebrated this week in the Liturgy. They are St. Jerome, St. Therese, the Guardian Angels, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Faustina and Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos. And they typify the amazing variety of ways that God manifests His holiness in this world.

No doubt the Creator of the universe takes special delight in two things: unity and diversity. This is not surprising since the Holy Trinity is One Divine Nature and Three Divine Persons. But the seemingly endless variety of creatures and people gives us only a glimpse of the mystery of the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Holy Trinity personifies the infinite fruitfulness of Divine Love and Truth.

One important way that the Scriptures explain this reality of the one and the many is through the image of the mystical body of Christ as a simile for the Church. The body is one but has many members. Or we could say that each individual is like a cell in the mystical body. Each cell has its unique function but they all contain identical DNA, just as all unique individuals contain the same image and likeness of God, specifically God Incarnate.

In our present secular society, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are being pushed everywhere. These are three good things but, like all good things, they are abused and must be understood correctly. Not all diversity should be promoted or tolerated. Racism, for example, is not an alternative perspective that should be welcomed. Pornography is evil and does great harm to individuals and society. It should not be tolerated. Healthy cells in the body can become cancerous and then must be removed somehow or they will kill the person.

In the gospel today Our Lord gives us strong admonitions and frightening warnings. This is because of His great love for us and His longing that we be part of the beautiful unity and diversity of His eternal Kingdom.

–Fr. Peter