Over the last several days, we’ve had a missionary priest visiting our parish. One of his challenges to us is to make efforts to bring our Anglo and Hispanic people together. Many of us want to see this happen, sooner rather than later, but it won’t be easy.
In some sense, many of us want to live with a certain isolation from those different than us. It might be that we just feel a bit more comfortable with the familiar. I don’t think this has to do with prejudice (although sometimes it does), but more likely we are so busy in our own little world that we don’t think we have the energy to put out the effort to learn a new language, culture etc.
In the end, we need each other. It doesn’t do anyone any good to be isolated from one another. Although it will be a massive effort, we have to find ways to bring people together for our mutual building up. We will be a stronger community when we are together. We will be weaker if we remain divided. We have a great starting point: faith.
As St. Paul said to his audience, it doesn’t matter where we come from, we’re all members of the Body of Christ.
I know many of you who follow my blog don’t live in my community. Without a doubt, there are some in your community who are different than you and your friends. Try and find a common bond with them. Maybe its faith, or a hobby, or some shared talent. Find a way how you can get to know each other. The good that can come from our efforts can really make a difference in all of our lives. Wouldn’t God be pleased with that?
