Why are there so many differences and distinctions?  Ways of living, ways of saying things, languages, cultures, religions, points of view…colors, rocks, flowers, animals.  Just so many differences, or to use a “different’ word – Diversity!  Too often we find it easier to slip into stances of irritated intolerance when something or someone is different than us instead of taking a brief pause that could open up another way of  perceiving.  

I feel assured that we all can say that we have met or known someone whom we might call a ” #!?! Stirrer!” Well, in today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11) we have a prime example of this in the person of Paul.  Paul has been summoned before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin to explain his case and justify his preaching of the Gospel.  Mind you, Paul was fully aware that within his audience he had both Sadducees and Pharisees; the former who did not believe in the resurrection, angels or spirits, and the latter group (Pharisees) who did believe these things.

So what does Paul do?  He stands before the assembly and proclaims that “I am a Pharisee…on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead!” Talk about playing the differences against each other!  Of course the two groups became divided – and the Pharisees argue “We find nothing wrong with this man, suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”  The dispute became so serious that Paul had to be rescued for fear that he may “be torn to pieces by them.”

So is Paul just ‘stirring the pot’ or is he simply an excellent tactician?  Perhaps a little bit of both.  But it occurs to me that sometimes we have to be confounded in our differences for us to move on, break out, or even consider that differences do not have to divide us.  The rapid and exuberant spread of the Gospel way of living during Paul’s time gives  testimony to what can happen or even what can be born from differences – the many diverse members of the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, we have only to look around to see that we today are still struggling with how to embrace and honor diversity by the behavior we exhibit.  We might agree with Paul because he thinks or believes like us.  However, when beliefs and agreement are not shared, literally all hell can break loose.   Being confounded in rigidity and complacency almost certainly leads to violent reactions of self-protection.   Cultural biases and protected interests can erupt into horrific consequences.

In John’s Gospel (JN 17: 20-26), we hear Jesus’ beautiful prayer for Unity to His Father!  “I pray…so that they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us.”  More than just unity, Jesus’ prayer is for Communion – a community of diversity that (yes, wait for it…) can live and be in God!  We are actually invited into this relationship-God, referred to as Trinity, and to bring all our differences, i.e., diversity with us!  We go with each other – Sadducees and Pharisees, Democrats and Republicans, American and Russian, male and female, homosexual and heterosexual, cisgender and transgender  (any perceived binary will do) – we go together into life with God, even Life in God.

But as Jesus’ prayer continues we hear that there is only One Spirit that has enough space for all of us…”that the world may know…that you loved them even as you loved me…and I will make it known that love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

Love alone welcomes and celebrates and even encourages diversity because it is the one unifying Whole big enough for everything! It is the one Spirit of Love that we must allow to stir our hearts and mix with reverence and encouragement the beautiful yet perhaps still hidden gifts we have for each other in God!  So let us start stirring the Spirit!

Peace

Thomas

(originally published May 12, 2016)