It’s my favorite bible verse. I suppose the reason is that I believe it is possible for people to work together for the good of all. In the passage from I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is pleading with the church in Corinth to consider their unity in Jesus Christ. It is a given, not because they are such good people, but because God makes it so through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let us consider what unity is not. It is not uniformity. We don’t have the same gifts. Some are teachers. Some are preachers. Some are singers and musicians. Others have the gift of organization. Still others can fix furnaces, vehicles, or computers. Some can build houses. Some have gifts to heal people and animals.

These various gifts are to be used for the good of all. As the body of Christ, we don’t get to decide whether we will use our gifts to God’s glory. We say, “Where can I be helpful? Send me there.”

It is not easy to promote unity. In 1987 the denomination I serve (ELCA-Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) was just forming from three separate Lutheran bodies. I served on the regional planning group. One of my duties was to keep local clergy informed of the progress. One day I met with a clergy group for lunch followed by a Q & A. First question: Why are we joining together? I know they expected practical answers such as it will be more efficient; it will save us money; it will help with personnel matters. I simply said, “It is a scandal to be separated when we are the body of Christ.” They snickered and laughed. I guess they had not thought very deeply about the passage, “now you are the Body of Christ, and individually members of it.”

Perhaps unity gets a bad rap because we live in a culture built on the myth of “rugged individualism.” When I was a young girl, I was enamored by the story of Lewis and Clark, the explorers of the northwest from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. My grade school friend and I even built forts in our backyard to represent the journeys of Lewis and Clark. Only later as I read various history books did I realize that if it had not been for help from the native tribes, Mandan, Shoshone, and Nez Perce to name a few, the Lewis and Clark expedition might not have reached the Pacific Ocean.

We need one another. Ubuntu is an African saying—I am what I am because of what we all are. Sometimes it is translated, “no one can be human alone.” That was the theme of the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering. I remember using the phrase in a sermon one Sunday morning shortly after that youth gathering. Joyce came up to me afterwards. She was offended by the phrase. Joyce was a single woman. She was a professional woman and very active in the congregation. We talked. I assured her that “Ubuntu” had little to do with marital status; it had everything to do with being part of a community—family, friends, faith community. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Perhaps you have heard about Episcopal Bishop Marian Budde of Washington, DC, and her remarks to the president at the prayer service. She asked for mercy to be included in all the tasks at hand. The next day I heard an interview with the bishop. She said, “mercy belongs wherever unity is sought.” How does mercy fit in with our relationship with God and one another as we strive to promote unity. First, we plead to God for mercy: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. It is a request and a prayer. Scripture tells us that God is merciful, compassionate, forgiving. I do not think I could get through the day without knowing that God shows mercy to me.

If I am the recipient of mercy, then I act with mercy toward others. This changes the dynamic of power—there do not have to be winners and losers. We act with mercy toward each member of the body of Christ. We recognize the face of Jesus in each person, brother, sister, sibling. We work for the greater good of justice, peace, and reconciliation.

Does this sound too unrealistic? Like a fairy tale? One of those “everyone lives happily ever after” movies? I have been accused before of being too idealistic. Of always focusing on getting along and working together. However, I believe the church is the body of Christ. I believe each of us is individually a member of that body. I believe that acting with mercy results in benefits for the whole body. Acting without mercy divides and brings disunity.

We are connected to each other. We are united in Christ Jesus. We are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Let us live out that unity as we go about our lives this week.