RESPECTING DIVERSITY AND INDIVIDUALITY THAT ENHANCE UNITY AND PROMOTE UNIVERSALITY

 

INTRODUCTION

The Church is a ‘sign and instrument of communion, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men and women’(LG. 1). This ecclesiology of communion is founded on the theology of the Trinity: one body of which all are members(Rom 12:4-6). The consecrated persons whoform the parts of the Church should be ‘experts in communion’.Religious community is a visible manifestation of the communion, which is the foundation of the Church and, at the same time, a prophecy of the unity towards which she tends as her final goal.

Respect for diversity has been established as a core value in the religious community. Appreciating diversity in communities includes understanding dimensions of diversity and how to work within diverse community contexts, but also includes a consideration of how to work within systems of inequality. As our communities become increasingly diverse, understanding different personalities and capabilities becomes crucial; without this primary and basic understanding, with considerations for their different individual experiences, members may unintentionally contribute to prejudice and discrimination or negatively impact relationships or apostolic effectiveness.

RESPECTING DIVERSITY AND INDIVIDUALITY THAT ENHANCE UNITY AND PROMOTE UNIVERSALITY

All life around us speaks to us of diversity, of variety. There is no life without diversity, without contrast. Wherever you turn, life needs diversity. However, to live in unity, we first must understand each other, or appreciate each other’s way of life and socio-cultural identity. This is possible if we know our cultures, traditions, and value systems; ignorance of each other’s ways and lives has been a common cause, throughout the history of mankind. Thus, it was also according to the Bible when God, to create life, separated the waters above from those below, the earth from the sea... Until everything was One, there was no place for life, there was no place for man.To us men God has entrusted the task of carrying out the work of creation, but instead of safeguarding diversity we have the tendency to bring everything back to one.Diversity, we could say, does not require us to be better, or to change, but to be ourselves.The eschatological trait is determined by a universal openness, according to a unity in plurality, constitutive of the Church at all levels, as fullness and totality through exchange and communication.

The strength of community depends on dialogue and unity, without fraternal dialogue, a community will lack the skills it needs to compete and be successful in today’s fast-changing global environment. In other to be credible and sustainable, dialogue must be redefined in a comprehensive and integrative sense. It should cover the entire spectrum of the life of a community, and not only aspects of high culture.

PRESENCE OF STRANGER IN THE COMMUNITY: DANGER OR OPPORTUNITY?

In religious life, a stranger in a community can be a member of the congregation who is not a member of a particular community or a religious who is not a member of a congregation, it can be diocesan clergy or a laity. The presence of a stranger in the community can be a very great opportunity for the community. A stranger can impact new ways of doing things that can be beneficial to the community. Communities are called to treat strangers with brotherly love and affection. There should be no form of discrimination or racism, but the identity of the congregation should be maintained. The community can be open to families the stranger with the culture of the community.

In cases where the stranger’s presence seems to be more of danger than an opportunity, the community can be of example and try to help him to change. if he/she proves undaunted, appropriate measures can be taken to avoid the occasions of scandals.

 

IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING AND DIALOGUE

 

Since ours is neither a monopoly nor tyrant community, we essentially live in fraternity and dialogue.Dialogue is indispensable in the communities. However, in dialogue, listening is an essential element. Listening is crucial to our relationship to God and one another. These relationships are intertwined. God can be speaking to us through one another.God calls every member to live in communion with himself and with the other disciples, to share his life and his destiny (cf. Mk 3: 13-15), and in this way to be a sign of the life and communion begun by him. Listening to one another can be a complex process because, foremost, listening requires attention. Yet attention can be hard; there are lots of distractions and trafficwhich pulls us away from our conversation.We also can have inner distractions;emotions such as anger or elation can impair our ability to listen. Listening is not just with our ears. It is with our head and our heart. When we encounter one another in dialogue we need to make a personal investment of our being; but a distracted presence will not do. Listening is part of the ‘journey of dialogue.’ At first we just need to pay attention and to show the other person that we value what they say.

Only by listening to the other can we know what he needs, how we can help him, how we can transform him. This serves for the apostolate and especially forformation.If we are genuinely attentive in listening to others, we will learn to look at the world with different eyes and come to appreciate the richness of human experience as manifested in different cultures andtradition.Listening takes time and effort. We must also suspend judgments and be ready to take the risk of getting closer to the other.When we listen and dialogue, we open up the space for hope and accommodation. When we learn to listen and dialogue, our hearts open, and we see each other properly as part of one family and we can connect on a deeper level. When we imbibe and practice the sacred act of listening, we also learn the act of conversation; the type that promote dialogue.Thus, the act of listening is foundational for an effective dialogue, and dialogue in turn is a key factor that promotes communal living.

CONCLUSION

The unity of the community can be persevered, and peaceful coexistence can be maintained through the recognition of diversity of every member of the community. The presence of strangers in the community can be of great advantage when fraternal accommodation is given and can also be of danger when individuals diffuse the community with their wrong vibes. We must be accustomed to the respect, esteem and appreciation of cultural differences, with listening, understanding, constructive dialogue, through the appropriation of the essential.