Hilda Of Whitby and One

 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

As you know by now I have been obsessed lately with the concept of “Oneing”, often appearing in passages about unity, sanctification, reconciliation and community. 

Yesterday, was the feast day of Hilda of Whitby and when I read the passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians appointed and appearing above, I was caught up short!

One body, One spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism are statements of principles which ground our faith. But what caught me up short was “one another”...bearing with “one another” and “making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. We have all been called to do this work of oneing with God’s help. 

In this world in which we go to sleep trying to let go of so many anxieties and disappointments and desperations only to wake up to them or more, I am consoled by the humility, gentleness and patience assigned and the invitation or summons to re-engage those dispositions to work toward Oneness. 

One. The Power of One.