Fr. George's Weekly Reflection

Jesus invites every single person ever to be born: “Come to me and I will give you life.” He has better “tracking” than the most sophisticated technology of our time.  And his contact is always person to person, close to intimate. “I am with you always.” We do not have to hold on the line while we press all the “right prompts” and still end up speaking to a machine that will further tell us what to do, all the while with no human contact!

Today in the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about “conflict resolution”. His way is always personal and He approaches people with two attitudes---a willingness to forgive and a readiness to love. Jesus knows about conflict and about misunderstanding. At the age of 12 when He is in the temple, Mary says to Jesus:  Why have you done this? Your father and I have been searching for you. During the Passion, He says:  “I speak the truth, why do you hit me?”  During the time of the evangelists, conflicts occurred between the early Christian communities, often as a result of cultural differences. 

Conflict continues…in families, in our communities, with people who are different from us or who “came after us”.   There is not a single person who has never encountered conflict.  Yet, Jesus states we must seek peace.