Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - St. Clare - foundress of Franciscan Nuns
[Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22 and Matthew 18:15-20]Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
I have a dear friend who has a graduate degree in "conflict resolution." I'll have to ask her about the method that Jesus recommends in today's gospel scripture! I know that I have suggested it more than once to individuals who have come to me to talk about relationships that have gone sour, or even started out sour! There is considerable literature about this - one book has the title SINCE STRANGLING ISN'T AN OPTION! When I preach retreats for religious or clergy, one of the most frequent questions I am asked concerns conflict in a rectory or convent or in a staff personnel situation. The very fact that the gospel process is there for us to read means that the challenge is an ancient one! Human beings are ever getting into conflict with each other. Sometimes it has lethal consequences as in war or terrorism on an international or nation-wide basis. Sometimes it can be lethal within a family or other social unit. It doesn't have to be "lethal" to be serious. Most of us know of family feuds where parent-child, sibling-sibling (etc.) conflicts result in non-communication for years and years! When I speak about forgiveness at a parish mission, these family situations are the ones that show up in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Jesus places the challenge squarely in front of us. We cannot allow conflict to fester and destroy love. We have to make the effort at reconciliation. The gospel warns us that it will not always be successful. That possibility should not deter us. It is far better to "win someone over" than to have another "Gentile or Tax Collector" to ignore! AMEN
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