God calls us to be 'one' with Him and others

One!
That was the theme of the annual Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Conference which was held last weekend at Orange Beach. Teenagers, their youth ministers and chaperones came together for this conference which has been held annually since 1974. Young people of high school age from across the archdiocese shared time together, prayed, went to confession, spent time in adoration, attended presentations, sang, played on the beach and enjoyed each other’s company. Priests gave of their time to be present for part or all of the weekend. It was an energetic and fun time! The conference was even more special because last year’s Conference was cancelled due to COVID-19. It was good to be together again. Thanks to Mr. Tex Phelps, Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, for all his fine work in organizing the event.
But why was the theme “One?”
One can have two different meanings. The word "one" can mean an individual person, a single person being alone, or “one” can mean several people joined together so that they become “one.” In short, “one” can have a meaning which is singular or plural.
God calls us to be joined together as His family the Church. The story of salvation history is God calling us together to be one. In the Old Testament, God forms a people. In the New Testament, God forms a Church. God always calls us to be “one” with Him and with others. God desires us to be “one” in the plural sense of the word. In the Bible, even when God works in the life of a single individual it is so that God can send that person back into the community of God’s people for a special role.
Why would God call us to be joined with others in living out our faith? Two important reasons come to mind. First, it is the way we put our faith into action. Jesus repeatedly tells us that our salvation depends on how we treat others: “The measure you measure with will be measured back to you.” (Lk 6:38) “Whatever you do to anyone, that is what you do to me.” (Mt 25:40) Jesus tells us that when we stand before God we will be asked “When I was hungry did you give me to eat; when I was thirsty did you give me drink.” (Mt 25) Our eternal salvation depends upon how well we are “one” with others.
Second, we need each other in remaining faithful to God. The world often turns its back upon God. Our society is forgetting God, and worse, embracing lies which contradict the message of Jesus Christ. It is very difficult for anyone to remain faithful to God while standing alone. We need the encouragement and support of others or we will end up being captured by the lies of the world.
I remember speaking with a man who converted to Catholicism. I asked him what religion he belonged before he became a Catholic. He told me that he had not belonged to any religion. He didn’t used to be anything but he realized that no one taught him right and wrong except himself. No one taught him what was important or unimportant except himself. No one taught him how a Christian should live except himself. He eventually realized his ideas were getting mixed up and he needed to be part of something larger than himself. 
That is what happens when we are “one” by ourselves. People who say that their church is sitting in a boat fishing, or taking a walk in the trees or sitting in a park run the risk of making themselves into their own personal religious cult since we listen to no one but ourselves.
So the decision is ours. This is what the teens were told at the final Mass as they prepared to return home. Will we be “one” as an individual or “one” in the sense of being part of God’s family? The family is not complete if we are missing.