Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come
and offer your gift.”

We live in a world that seems more and more polarized by division every day. The enemy continues to manipulate and stir discontent and we have become focused on our differences and not on our commonalities. If I find that you and I disagree on any of the hot topics of the day, be it politics, social justice, foreign affairs, equality, or even religion, the walls can go up and the conversations can turn quickly from a discussion into an argument. It has been said that we as a society are becoming ‘tribal’ in our mentality and only surrounding ourselves with others that agree with us. Do you see this in your own life? 

Jesus’ words today should make us pause and think. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. When emotions are what we lead with, this can seem almost impossible. Why would I love or pray for someone who appears to want to hurt me, to tell me that I am unworthy because I think or feel differently than them? Sometimes, what Jesus asks can feel impossible, doesn’t it?

The clarifying point can be found in how Jesus expands on this. Loving only those who love you is what those in the world do. And we are called to be different. If we only greet our brothers and sisters, we are staying in our tribe. What did Jesus do while He walked the earth? He ate with tax collectors. He healed the servant of a Roman soldier. He did not shy away from difficult conversations or turn away from those who were not as holy as He was. He got right down in the middle of the mud and the muck and tried to understand why this person was living this way, thinking this way, or making that choice. 

And friends, we as Catholics living in this divided society, have to heed the lesson of Christ today to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, by becoming more like His Son. Pray for His grace to do this, because it won’t happen naturally. We grow more like Jesus through the difficult and challenging. Step back from your preconceived judgements based on what you think you see or know about your neighbor and find out who they really are. Talk to someone new at church this Sunday. Reach out to your neighbor with the lawn sign for a candidate you wouldn’t vote for. Show loving kindness to someone who leans a little more left or right than you do and find out why they believe what they believe. Jesus wants us to stop seeing each other as enemies. He’s calling us to pray and love instead. 

Reflection Questions: Consider your viewpoints on different hot topics facing our culture right now. Take the time to learn what the Church teaches about them and why. Then consider those who may feel differently and try to understand where they are coming from. We don’t have to compromise the truth of Jesus’ teachings, but we do need to love and understand people so that through the love we show, they may be able to feel the love of Christ. And maybe these small steps can heal some of the divisions we face. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to step outside my own opinions and thoughts to truly see and listen to others in my life. I want to be more like You. It can be hard, but I know that our world needs healing and I want to be a part of that. Amen.