Basis for our unity and equality

I SUPPOSE everyone is interested in unity and equality, perhaps more of the latter than the former, though one cannot be without the other.

My feminist friends, for example, would want women to have equality with men. The poor want to be treated with a certain sense of equality with the rich. Same with the young with respect to the oldies, the weak and handicapped with the strong and powerful, etc. It’s a matter of basic justice.

We cannot deny the fact that aside from the uniqueness of each one of us, we form different groups and fall into different classes, kinds, types and categories, based on different criteria—beliefs, culture, profession, to mention a few.

Yet there is also the undeniable fact that despite our many differences, we want to be together in a functioning unity and equality. That’s why we have doctrines, rules and laws, courts, governments and other structures to attain this goal.

We just have to make sure all these human instruments are properly grounded. Which also means they have to be properly driven and oriented, since these requirements actually go together, though they don’t come automatically. We have to work on them.

This can happen only when our pursuit for unity and equality is based on our living union with God shown in obeying the truths he revealed to us about ourselves and living them, of course, in charity. Again, truth and charity always go together if either one has to be authentic, not fake or plastic. Otherwise, we would have a flying elephant.

Our problem is that we often get contented only with our own ideas, ideologies, laws and some consensus to achieve this ideal. Do you think these would be enough? Unity and equality among men and women, for example, just cannot be achieved simply with our human means. We can say, “tell it to the Marines,” when one would dare to affirm so. Imagine when we have to consider the complexities of pursuing social justice.

Though our human doctrine, ideologies and laws have a role to play, they are nothing if they are not inspired or infused with the living spirit of God, who is the source of all unity and equality. This should be made clear to everyone.

We would just be giving appearances, many times deceptive appearances, of unity and equality, when things are not done in the context of a living relation with God. The Trinitarian nature of God—three persons in one God, equal in dignity and in eternal relation with one another—is the pattern of the unity and equality proper to us.

This is just but to be expected, since we are made in the image and likeness of God, and with grace, made children of his, meant to participate in the very life of God. We should never forget this piece of fundamental truth so indispensable in our life here on earth!

Christ, the son of God who became man to give us the fullness of divine revelation, has affirmed this truth when he said in his prayer to his Father: “Holy Father,” he said, “keep them in your name whom you have given me, that they may be one as we also are.” (Jn 17,11) This is the famous “ut unum sint” line of our Lord.

We can only become one and equal with one another in Christ, in spite of or because of our differences. This is what St. Paul said in this regard: “For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.” (Rom 1,4-5)

We need to meditate deeply on these words for in them is contained the very germ of our unity and equality among ourselves. These are no mere words, if approached with faith and piety. They are the living truth that comes from God, effective words depending on how consistent we are with our faith.

Our problem usually is that we tend to refrain from making a theological understanding of our life. We prefer to stay in the “safe and comfortable” vision of life, guided only by common sense, or our reasoning based on our sciences, technology and our so-called democratic way of life.

We need to expand our grasp to reality by being guided mainly by faith and an authentic relationship with God, because only then can we truly satisfy our longing for unity and equality.