YOU ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY. LET EACH MAKE GOOD HIS OWN TALENT, THEN IT WILL BE THE BODY THAT LACKS NOTHING.

Posted on August 6, 2021 by franksantucci

The community in Canada had been on a bumpy ride with several strong personalities interacting – not always smoothly. By now they had come to a more united lifestyle and Eugene recognized this.

At this moment your house at Longueuil is certainly one of our most regular houses and well you know that it is indeed by the Providence of God that you recognize that it would be too ungrateful on your part, after receiving so many graces, if you were not to become ardent for the glory of God and your improvement. I am in perfect agreement with you and it is not as of today that I think so. How could you dream of accomplishing a mission like yours if you did not exert every effort to attain the perfection of your vocation? I thought I had made this plain enough to you when I sent you: “carry each other’s burdens” [ed Galatians 6:2]. Need I say to you: “and so you will fulfil the law of Christ”?

How is that the difference of temperaments is not effaced by the resolution to have but one will for good, to consider only God whether in the Rules you should observe, whether in the men with whom you are but one body and soul. The least clash in this supernatural order brings on grave inconvenience, disorders and consequently many sins.

But you want us to be no longer concerned with the past. I agree to this provided that in future you are such as you say you have become by the grace of God. But to this end, always be very deferential and respectful to each other… Be convinced that no one here below possesses every good quality, be satisfied with those you have received as your share, try to acquire more but do not demand that your brother possess numerically more than yourself. It is possible that he lacks some quality or some virtue that you think you have, but be quite sure that he has some on his side that are lacking in you. Put everything then in common for the advantage of all. You are all members of one body. Let each make good his own talent, then it will be the body that lacks nothing.

Letter to the first group of Canadian Missionaries, 17 January 1843, EO I n 15a

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One Response to YOU ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY. LET EACH MAKE GOOD HIS OWN TALENT, THEN IT WILL BE THE BODY THAT LACKS NOTHING.

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    August 6, 2021 at 11:56

    “Carry each other’s burdens…” These words leap off of the page this morning. I continue reading on, but I find myself returning to them. In my mind a familiar image once again appears – it is the image of a sculpture carved at the capital of a column in the medieval basilica of St. Mary Magdalene in Vézelay, France and depicted in Wrembek’s “Hope for Judas.” It is the image of Jesus carrying his friend Judas on his shoulders. Jesus completes Judas.

    I am quite unable to get it out of my mind.

    If I stop judging, comparing and measuring my brothers and sisters then I will be able to notice their many good qualities. And in doing that I will also notice my own qualities as well as those that I am missing.

    Eugene is mentioning, reminding us of all the ways that are necessary for us to live if we are to not just survive, but to truly thrive as community – with each individual making up the greater whole as we move together on our journey of salvation.

    It will be with love that we are able to carry each other’s burdens. We will each then celebrate the strengths and goodness of the others. It will be this that marks the cohesion and goodness of our communities. We will be recognized and known by how we share our gifts with each other. This is how we will help to complete (bring out the goodness of) each other.

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