In the Gospel for today, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, the crowds are debating who Jesus is—a Prophet or the Christ?
Some argue that Jesus is from Galilee and so he cannot be the Christ. Others argue that Jesus is the Christ.
The Gospel tells us that a division occured because of Jesus. Isn't this still true today?
Among ourselves, we argue and fight about who Jesus is. Within many circles, we grant that he was the Christ and the Savior of the world. Yet, in trying to figure out who he is, we act like he who isn't. We accuse each other; we become angry and bitter toward each other.
As a people of God, we have the call to holiness and the call to build one church. During this season of Lent, let's focus not on what divides us as people of faith, but focus on what joins us. By focusing on the positive, not the negative, we can have actual dialogue on what divides us. Through all of that, we advance toward holiness.
I'm not certain that the scripture is not a very strong argument in favor of confronting difficult issues in spite of their potential to bring division. Our criteria for focusing on dimensions of the Gospel should simply be whether the object of our focus is true. Any extraneous criteria could ultimately serve to distract us from the truth.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should go walking into the University Baptist Center and tell them to worship the Eucharist. We just have to be careful that our desire to be "one" does not get in the way of the reason we wish to be one--namely, the truth that is Christ. What the reading demonstrates to me is that sometimes Christ unites, and sometimes he doesn't. In a sense it really has nothing to do with Christ, but with the fallen human condition. Sometimes we want to hear his truth, and sometimes we don't. But that never stops him from speaking to us. And if holiness means following the example of Christ, then we have to accept that there will be times when the truth needs to be spoken even though it will be difficultly accepted or not accepted at all.
Confronting differences in a spirit of charity and holiness (rather than anger and bitterness, which, far from being essential ingredients to a dialogue , are quite anathema to it) can have a more unifying effect than glossing over differences and pretending we have no disagreements.
Again, I recognize that you are not suggesting such pretension. I'm just saying that we could easily arrive at that point if we don't acknowledge the dual reality: that yes, we must focus on things that we agree upon, but not at the expense of truth. For holiness and truth are intimately connected, God being the teacher in both. Holiness without Truth is not holiness, but truth without holiness is really not, nor will it really lead to, the Truth that is Christ.
So basically point well taken, with a footnote.
My point is that "Yet, in trying to figure out who he is, we act like he who isn't."
If we focus on what unites us, that is Christ, whatever our divisions are can be discussed in a civil and forthright manner.
If we focus on what does not unite us, we will be more quick to judge, to call out, to accuse and acurse.
We do have the call to be one church and we have to keep that in mind when dealing with our brothers and sisters who, while baptized into Christ, still lack full communion with His Church.
I'm pointing out a problem that exists when Catholics and non-Catholics fight, literally fight, about something. Or when "left-wing Catholics" fight with "right-wing Catholics. It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong- the Catechism clearly states that the end does not justify the means.
If we keep our focus on Christ, we won't fight about the issues. We'll be able to explore our differences and work toward everyone finding full Truth.
Gotta run...