How to overcome divisions

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the Third Week in Lent
March 11, 2010

Today's Readings:
Jeremiah 7:23-28
Ps 95:1-2,6-9
Luke 11:14-23
http://www.usccb.org/nab/031110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_03_11.mp3

How to overcome divisions

Today's Lenten challenge is embodied in the words of Jesus in today's Gospel passage: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

There is no neutral ground. No fence to straddle. Whenever we fail to fully cooperate with Jesus, we are working (to some degree) against his perfect plans, against his strategies for spreading the kingdom of God, and against his attempts to answer other people's prayers.

If we neglect the needs of others, if we ignore the sufferings of even the least significant people around us, if we refuse to love those whom he loves, we are working against Jesus.

Wow.

Are there divisions in your family or parish or rectory or religious order or ministry? Every division is more than just person against person, faction against faction. It's an act against Jesus and it scatters people away from the path that he has paved for them. Jesus says, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste. Any house torn by dissension falls."

However, through God's resurrection power, all divisions can become great opportunities for new and stronger unity – IF both factions choose to reconcile and to handle the problems God's way.

What if you're willing, but others in a divisive situation have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks (as described in today's first reading)? The division might not end in your lifetime, but God will bless you and heal your heart and strengthen your holiness.

To receive this healing, we have to hear God's voice and harden not our hearts (as it says in today's responsorial Psalm) when others make reconciliation difficult or impossible. Condemnation and vengeful anger work against God's plans, so instead of adding to the wall of division, we take pity on our enemies and pray for them and stand beside Jesus, ready and eager to be conduits of his merciful love if and when opportunities arise.

Sometimes for the sake of safety or emotional and spiritual health, we have to separate ourselves from others when they refuse to cooperate with reconciliation. This breakup is not a sin, regardless of how long the division continues, that is, IF we listen for God's voice, soften our hearts, and choose to lovingly do good for our enemies.

Loving those from whom we're divided means that we don't decide how to treat them based on how they treat us nor on what we think they deserve. Instead, we give them what they're ready to receive from Jesus through us. That's how to have unity even in the midst of divisions!

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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