Do you know what it is?
One Thing!
What is the one thing? Do you know? Are you seeking to discover it for yourself? While this may appear to be new age sophistry, it really is a very valid question, one that we should seriously stop and consider.One is a singular notion, denoting a single entity, a unity. St. Augustine, one of the early fathers of the church often said: “In essentials, unity; in nonessential, diversity; in all things charity.” Throughout our catholic faith, the number one is used extensively.
- When we speak of God we say there is but one God, not two, or three, or a dozen, but one; not many gods, only one God. While we believe in the trinity, the triune God (three persons in one); Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the three are singularly one God.
- When we speak of the bible we say it is the “Word of God,” not the “Words of God.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” [Jn 1:1]. We conclude the readings of the Mass with “The Word of the Lord” not “The Words of the Lord.”
- For the apostolic fathers the most important aspect of the church was its unity (oneness.) On earth there was only one church, the church formed by Jesus, with Cephas (Petras…the rock) at its head and the profession of one faith received from the Apostles (apostolic succession.) “Unity is of the essence of the Church.”
- The Church is one because of her founder, Jesus Christ: for “the Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross,…restoring the unity of all in one people and one body.” The Church is one because of her “soul”. (CCC 813.)
- There is one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. You can only be baptized once. You are baptized into one family in Christ.
- The church is the body of Christ, a singular entity; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, but above all one in Christ our Lord and Savior.
Every time we recite the Creed at Mass you say “I believe in one…church.” Do you mean it? Do you know what the one thing is? Think about it. The answer might surprise you. It will certainly give you something interesting to talk about. After all, it is what you believe, isn’t it?
