I’ve never heard so much talk about the common good in all my nearly sixty years on the Earth. It seems that everyone has an opinion today about what others need to do for the good of all people, and they are more than happy to tell everyone exactly what that looks like. Yet I haven’t heard much concern about individual souls. We will be judged by the ways that we chose individually while on Earth, not according to the group’s consensus (2 Corinthians 5:10).
The common good has been one of my main topics when teaching or presenting over the years. One of my more common references has always been St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul reminds the community that they are one body in Christ with many members. It’s a passage frequently given as an example of the unity of the church. Like a physical body, we are one with many parts. Each of those parts has a different function. None are more important than the others because the body would not function as well without even one part. Paul explains that “God has so arranged the body . . . that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it (1 Corinthians 12:24-26). He reminds us that we are each individual members of that body; united yet diverse (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Much like us today, the members of the early Church were pointing fingers at each other, arguing about who was better, holier, or wiser. Unity in diversity was the message that Paul wanted to bring to them. We each have different gifts, unique ideas, distinctive opinions, and yet, we are all part of the Body of Christ. St. Paul reminds us that we need each other, that we should respect each other, and sympathize with each other. In this way, the Body functions best and so can move together towards doing the work of Christ . . . teaching, healing, loving, serving, forgiving, caring, etc.
We are not intended to be a uniform group of followers. Unity does not mean uniformity. God created each of us unique (Psalm 139:13), and each soul will stand individually before God in the end. Each of us will have to answer for our individual actions, and I doubt God will want to hear that we were just doing what the others told us to do. Our conscience is the only real place where we can know right from wrong:
Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths (CCC 1776).
We must each, individually retreat to a quiet space where we can hear God’s voice. We should bring the options we are considering to Him and listen for His voice speaking to our soul. A spiritual director and our church community can try help us to know that we have understood correctly. It’s good to bounce ideas off other people, so we can be certain we are not deceiving ourselves. However, ultimately, our individual choices are what we will be judged by, not the group’s consensus.
Again, it is Paul who reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Especially during these times when we are inundated with information and confusing messages, I urge each and every one of us to spend time alone in silence before God listening for his voice echoing in our depths. His message will be clear. It is only there that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
Read more reflections in When on Earth: Discovering Christian Spirituality in the Daily Happenings of Ordinary Life.