bt you’ve heard it before. It is true! We are made to live in community. Even our God is a community of persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We were born into a family – a miniature community, where we first learned what community demands. Love is the cement that holds it together. This is true of a family, a community, a parish or the wider community. Though a community is made up of individuals, “individualism” will divide it. Each one must look to collaboration as a means to their goal. They will find their wisdom and strength in God as their centre. In a family there is no room for selfishness and conceit, which destroys relationships between spouses and between the children.
What is true of the family is also true of the Christian community, our village and our world. Each contains leaders and followers. The common good should be what motivates us and is the basis for our actions. Each person brings his or her God-given gift, which shared together helps to build a strong community. Because of the great variety of gifts among the members, everything necessary is present for the upbuilding of the community. We must create the space for others to share their gifts by our encouragement and love. Look to the interests of others rather than our own. Root out any jealousy and tendency to quarrel, turning to God for his help and strength to do this. When others have a different approach or idea about how to resolve a conflict, really listen to what they are saying instead of building arguments to prove that your idea is better. Be present to their idea and follow their reasoning with love and consideration.
St. Paul tells us, “Love is patient, love is not envious, or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.”(1Cor 13:4,5) Let go of control and the need to see yourself as the important one with all the right answers. Be honest when deciding the worth of the different suggestions. Choose what is best for all, not allowing your ego to prejudice your opinion.
For guidance, pray and look to the person who has the gift of leadership, experience, strength, honesty and perspective. Support their wisdom. Whether building a community or building a house, be certain that you want to live in the place that you build. Someone needs to be the leader to hold it all together. Within the group, someone has the gift of leadership. Be sure that the leader chosen is compassionate, truthful, and dependable, a person who shows up for every meeting and looks to Jesus as the keystone of the structure. Shop around among the potentials for one who is wise and knows to go to Jesus for strength and power and uses quiet discipline. Be an active member of the community. Do your part. Don’t just stand back leaving all the work to others. Work on yourself so that you grow into a mature, contributing, positive member, always lending a hand with love.
Community is about loving others and dying to yourself, realizing that your gift is also for others, not for yourself. A community which loves, prays, shares and has God at the centre holding it together will be a community which acts with strength and compassion and manifests joy!
Sister Andrea Dumont is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto Roman Catholic religious order. She spent 14 years in Guatemala and since returning to Canada has lived in Grand Rapids, Easterville and Thompson. The main focus of her work in adult education, which includes training lay presiders for times when there is no priest available, organizing and instructing in the various ministries, sacramental preparation and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).
