THE BOND OF PEACE
(Tuesday, November 26)
“I therefore, a prisoner (δέσμιος) in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond (συνδέσμῳ) of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in the one hope of your calling, – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Eph 4: 1-6)
The “calling to which you have been called”! What is that, exactly? It is “bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit” in the “bond” that is meant to bind us, which is peace. Our peace is “the one hope of our calling,” – one Lord, Who is above us all. It is He Who binds us, St. Paul is telling us, even as he himself is bound (δέσμιος, one who is bound, or a prisoner) in the Lord.
Sadly, however, I sometimes tell myself not to bother, when some conflict arises with someone, and unity is broken. I prefer not to deal with it, and let myself and the other go our separate ways. But as I read the above-quoted passage today, I realize that this “not” wanting to “deal” and go my separate way is precisely the opposite of how the Apostle is begging us to be.
As I prepare for Thanksgiving this Nativity Fast, let me be “bothered” today, if I need to make amends “with all humility and meekness.” And that means, leaving the results of these amends to God, Who alone can grant us true unity, as the Source of Oneness. “Come and abide in us,” Lord, and forgive us our debts in the whole business of unity, as we forgive ourselves, in Your peace.
