THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR

School was often a challenge form me, I especially found myself challenged in math by fractions. For some reason I struggled with determining the lowest common denominator.

It seems Paul, in his writing to the Ephesians, is having a similar problem in trying to teach the Christian community in Ephesus to discover the lowest common denominator.  The community in Ephesus had a very diverse population of Jews & Greeks, free & slave, women & men.  Like most of us, as human beings, they found themselves challenged in seeing beyond their many differences and Paul is attempting to get them to focus on what they have in common.  Paul points to the need for them to act with humility, patience, and gentleness, wrapping these virtues at heart as he encourages them to strive for peace.  He reminds them that, as believers, they have in common: the “one body … one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father” (Eph 4:4-6).

Our time is not so different.  Divisions exist within our community based on race, economic status, politics, issues concerning the right to life, the question of gender, and even marriage.  The Church knows all too well these challenges.

Jesus reminds the crowds, and us, how we know how to read the signs to predict the weather, we know how to read the signs to tell us when to buy or sell in the stock market, yet we often misinterpret or miss all together the greatest sign, the lowest common denominator, God’s love in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  It is in our simple gifts of bread and wine, brought forth from the community, consecrated by the priest, and given back in communion that we are reminded that we are members of the one body, joined in communion with the one Spirit.  We are clinging to the one hope in the one Lord.  We are connected in one baptism and faith through which we believe we come face to face with the one God and Father.

When it’s all said and done we send you forth after this sacred meal, to go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.  To utilize the lowest common denominator Jesus gave us that transcends all languages and cultures, “Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)