Speaking to a Divided Church
Today’s world is a challenging place for priests, deacons, bishops, teachers and all who strive to bring the Gospel of Christ to others. The divisions are evident. Just like our nation, issues such as politics, race, and the pandemic, cause heated discussion. We have Catholics who want the church to change the world and those who simply want it to be a quiet place to pray. We have the right and the left and everyone in between and the problem is no one seems to know how to talk to each other. Criticism becomes condemnation and disagreement becomes anger. For many, the agenda is more important than the person. So how can we heal this divide? Here are some points to consider:
- The first step is to listen. This in itself is an important ministry in the healing of souls. Jesus used it frequently. When he began his public ministry, he went to Peter’s house, where he heard about his mother-in-law. That was the topic of conversation and Jesus healed her. When he preached the Sermon on the Mount, it is clear that he had listened to the fears, challenges, and heartaches of the people. Thus, he was able to talk to their hearts. The first step to healing is always to listen.
- The second step is to seek the truth. After listening, one must separate the facts from the fiction. Often, people “spin” the facts to fit their point. The Pharisees were good at doing this. Jesus once criticized them for “removing the splinter in their neighbor’s eye while ignoring the plank in their own.” Seeking truth means looking for what is really important. We must listen and ponder a variety of opinions before we accept or dismiss them.
- Finally we must speak the truth with love. Again, I think Jesus emphasized this by becoming a brother to you and me. The honor has nothing to do with our rank in the church, our wealth, our reputation or status in the community. We are connected by blood (that is Jesus’ blood). Thus, we can walk with each other in both good and bad times. We are called not to give up, not to condemn, and not to be condescending. We are called to treat all like a brother or sister.
True, this is nothing more than a framework from which to speak. It is not a magic formula that will make others speak or act in a Christian way, but it will help us be positive and respectful when addressing others. As we face the struggles of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ in today’s world, think about how we speak. Is it respectful? Does it show we have listened with an open heart? Does it seek the truth? The times may be difficult, but many will fail because they fail to proclaim the Gospel as Jesus did.
Father Jeff
Save the date - please join us on Sunday, June 6th after the 10:30 AM Mass
for our Corpus Christi procession