Today we hear Jesus’ explicit teaching about something common in his time and in ours: human conflict. Conflict destroys relationships, even those that begin in love; whenever we experience conflict, it is a spiritual red flag. Then we need to “stop, look and listen,” to be the “watchmen” that our second reading advises.
So the first piece of advice Jesus gives about conflict situations is “say something.” If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone (Matt 18:15ff). That is, don’t avoid the topic (or the person) and let the anger that conflict produces in all of us just simmer. And the second piece of advice is just as good: Don’t go it alone. Conflict is a situation where we need not to be alone. But of course Jesus doesn’t mean we should just enlist allies to support our claim that we are innocent, and this conflict is not our fault! In Hebrew society of Jesus’ day, a person in conflict would have selected as an “ally” a person respected by the community for their wisdom, and for their own ability to navigate life peacefully; that is, a godly person. The wise person is not always our best friend. It’s someone who gives us a larger perspective, and perhaps better strategies for handling the situation. Sometimes, of course, conflicts arise that are so serious that for our own safety and health we need to distance ourselves. But many conflicts can be resolved, with good will on both sides — and for the good of all the communities of which we are a part, walking away is not the first strategy for us Christians. For we need to meet the challenge Jesus gave us, his followers: to “love your neighbor as yourself,” even those we are in conflict with.
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia
The post September 6, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Red Flag: a Sunday Scriptures blog first appeared on Sisters of the Precious Blood.