My Resolutions to End Division

Each year, I write out New Year’s resolutions. This year, I’ve decided to adopt a scriptural template using Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians as a guide.

Paul writes to a community that was experiencing division among “Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian and Scythian, slave and free.” (3:15). He points out that division has no place among Christians. It is like slicing up the body of Christ. The issues are different today, but division rages on about any topic you can imagine: vaccines, climate change, masking, immigration, gender identity… just to name a few. Divisiveness has even entered the Catholic liturgy, with some arguing we should have two Roman Rites – divided by pre and post-Vatican II – not just one.

Saint Paul’s response to the divisions in Colossae was not so much to judge the merit of the issue but to provide a way of living in which divisions can’t gain traction on their own, but are anchored solely by Christ’s light and love.

Here is the scripture passage (see Col 3:12-15) and seven resolutions that I’ve adopted to be a promoter of unity and an ender of division. Each has a question or two to prompt me to a deeper examination of my conscience:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved…
Heartfelt Compassion.  When have I felt the pain of another? When was I cold-hearted?
Kindness.   How would others describe my actions in person or on social media – kind or mean?
Humility.  What issue do I need to relinquish my pride and just ‘let it go’?
Gentleness.  Did I respond gently, or instead tried to ‘command and control’?
Patience. With whom did I lose my temper? To whom did I offer forgiveness?
Over all these put on love   When did respond selflessly and selfishly?
And be thankful.  List three things I am thankful for today.

In Paul’s metaphor, he calls to mind fashion accessories, encouraging the Colossians to “put on” these virtues as one would put on an article of clothing. I might even try to associate each virtue with an article of clothing and make getting dressed a spiritual practice (i.e. the shirt, closest to the heart, would be compassion; the shoes, lowest to the ground, humility…)

When divisions arise, in your mind, your heart, or in the world around you, make it your resolution to put on some of these virtues and see what a difference it makes.