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Bulletin 142 Date : 19th Sep 2008
UN-ity and Diversity

Last week my wife and I were in Vienna visiting our son who recently started work at the United Nations. As a consequence we decided to take the official tour around the buildings with a trained guide who explained the workings of the organisation and showed us the huge conference rooms (pictured). As you can see, we took this opportunity of chairing a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

I was particularly impressed by the atmosphere within the complex and how it relates to the gospel message. As we went through security, we were told that we officially left Austrian soil as the complex is owned by the UN. We saw the 192 flags of the member nations but were informed that one flag was that of the Vatican City who are not members.

As we wandered around on the tour we saw people of many colours, all speaking different languages and representing different nations and yet all working on the same site, eating in the same canteen and seemingly sharing all things in common. There was no hint of the tension we see on our TV screens on a regular basis and no sense of discrimination on the grounds of race, creed or colour.

The theme of unity in diversity was ringing loud in my ears. No one was seeking to create uniformity and erode the differences, but instead to show respect for one another and value the contribution each one brings. Perhaps this is what St. Paul was hinting at in 1 Corinthians 9:22 where he says, “I have become all things to all men”. All too often we are tempted to avoid people who are different from ourselves and seek to change them into our own image. But Christian Faith knows no cultural or ethnic barriers and we share in a worldwide Church which is rich in diversity and yet united in Christ.

I reflected upon the extent to which Jesus tried to break down barriers in his own society. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example of how he challenged perceptions about people who were ‘different’. His priority in mission was to those labeled by society as ‘tax collectors and sinners’ (Luke 19:10) although I doubt whether Jesus would have referred to them in these words. In Mark 9:38-41 we see another example of the narrowness of thought, this time from his disciples. Again, in Galatians 3:28-29, St. Paul amplifies this theme of unity in diversity – “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus”. Also, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-5 Paul warns against creating factions, even within the Church, and refers to it as jealousy and strife.

In John 12:32 we hear Jesus explaining that he will “draw all men to myself”. In this I see the glorious gathering of his followers from all parts of the world, rejoicing forever in the Saviour they have loved and served and who has broken down all divisions between ourselves and God through his sacrificial death.

I’m sure that the founders of the UN were thinking along similar lines in their hope of building peace among the nations. As Christians, this is also our role in our everyday lives.