Again and again in his letters St. Paul stresses the theme of unity. He does so because staying united in community is hard. Whenever you have two people there is the giving and the taking of wounds as we rub up against one another. Those differences and disagreements can blind us to the fact that on the most basic level we are meant to be one, to be united. The unity of the Triune God is the fundamental truth that we are meant to reflect as believers. There is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” We should “bear with one another through love” so that we reflect in our lives the mercy of God extended to each one.
