Diversity

 “Amazed and astonished, the crowd asked, ‘Are not these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?” (Acts 2:7-8).

             When I was on my Sabbatical in Toronto, most days I used to catch the bus on St. Clair Avenue which would take me to Warden Station where I would get on the Subway and get off at Bay Station in order to go to class. One day, after getting on the bus, I looked around at my fellow passengers and noticed I was the only white person on it. I want to make it clear I had no problem with this situation (and still don’t). I felt perfectly comfortable. In a sense that bus was a microcosm of our multicultural country. The other thing I noticed was how everyone was doing typically “Canadian” things. A couple of Middle Eastern looking women in hijabs were chatting with each other. Some Philipino men were drinking their Tim Horton’s coffee. Some African looking high school students were scrolling through their phones. A Korean man was listening to music on his headphones. Now I realize racism, sexism and Islamophobia are serous problems in our country which must be addressed. Everyone on the bus (except me) had likely encountered it recently. Yet, somehow despite our differences, there seemed to be no tension on the bus except our concern to get to work or school on time. The experience taught me a lesson about diversity.

            Luke’s account of the crowd’s reaction to the disciples speaking in different languages indicates that diversity is not a foreign concept to the Church. The crowd consisted of people from all around the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. The disciples were all from Galilee which meant they spoke Aramaic and maybe some Hebrew. They likely had little formal education beyond some rudimentary religious formation. Yet, here they were talking about some serious religious topics to an international crowd. Their message was the same: the prophecies of Joel were fulfilled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, a descendant of David and the promised Messiah. Yet, the medium by which this message was communicated was the diverse languages which were understood by members of every group. Diversity was not a problem but the means by which the Good News could be passed on by these individuals to the members of their communities back home. This meant more people would hear it sooner.

            Diversity is a word which has become less fashionable over the past few years. It is often associated with “political correctness” and imposing a view of the world on people against their will. Uniformity is much more convenient and efficient. When everyone prays in one language (English, Latin or whichever one is chosen), celebrates liturgy in one style or follows one set of devotions, life is simpler. Yet, that is not what God chose to do at Pentecost. He could have made everyone speak the same language but showed how unity in what is important (doctrine) could be achieved through diversity in what was less important (language). There may be a lesson in this story for us. In addition, uniformity is an exercise of power. Who decides which language is used, how the Mass is celebrated or which devotions are promoted? Of course, there are certain things which are non-negotiable: like bread and wine being used when celebrating the Eucharist. Yet, the Church is changing. For most of its history, it has been dominated by thinking associated with Europe and North America. Its center of gravity is now shifting to other parts of the world. Over the next decades and centuries, new ideas from Africa, Asia and South America will no doubt influence the Church’s thinking. Within Canada, individuals from these parts of the world compose larger portions of most parishes and in some cases have their own parish communities. As long as the essential doctrines and practices are preserved, diversity may enable the Church to connect with the lives of ordinary people throughout the world in a more effective way. We may witness a new Pentecost when people unfamiliar with Christ may listen to our message.

            As I learned that day on the bus, diversity is part of daily life. The question is how do we respond to it. As Catholics, we can flee from diversity in fear and hide within our own particular group which speaks the same language, worships in the same manner and practices the same devotions or we can embrace it becoming comfortable learning from and co-existing with those who may do things differently while sharing the same faith. The choice is ours.

June 8, 2025