“‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:13).
There are many different ways that e can handle conflict.
Sometimes it takes righteous anger – as Christ in the Synagogue with the money lenders…
“Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13).
Here, Christ was angry – because His Father’s house was being disrespected. He expressed the same anger and sadness to Saint Faustina when he was explaining the standard of behaviour that God expects of those who have been ordained to the life of a religious. He told her that such souls receive more Graces than other souls and as a result those souls are expected in a more serious way, to remain holy and pure for the Goodness of God. When such souls as these fail in their holiness, it is especially painful for God. And it is for this reason that we are called to pray for our priests and religious. Saint Therese of Lisieux (and in fact all Carmelites) pray especially for priests for this very reason. And Saint Faustina wrote of the instances of sin that exist in a convent and the opportunities for neglect of the Commandments and the Sacraments.
And there are other times, when conflict is expressed as meekness – as it was in Christ during His unjust judgement…
“Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He said to him in reply, ‘You say so.’ Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find this man not guilty.’ But they were adamant and said, ‘He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.’” (Luke 23:3-5).
Quietly, Christ responded – not by defending Himself – but He stood by and quietly accepted all the things said about Him and all the evil accusations. And He dealt with the conflict through silence.
And then there is Blessed Pope Benedict XI, who died in the fourteenth century… After his predecessor Pope Boniface VIII died, Pope Benedict XI excommunicated the people who had seized and abused Pope Boniface VIII but also used his time to restore peace in the French Court. He was lenient in times of conflict – not unforgiving – but he used that time to restore peace. Eight months after his election to the Pontificate, Blessed Pope Benedict IX died of suspected poisoning.
And today I have been reflecting on these different ways of handling conflict – righteous angry, quiet acceptance and leniency… And It seems to me today that I need to pray for the Grace to be able to approach each conflict in the way that my Lord and God would want me to…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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