Reconciled
This morning’s gospel includes on one level the very best advice we have on conflict resolution. The basic principles of going first to the person directly, then involving two or three witnesses, then taking it to the community make perfect sense in any context. That’s truly helpful because we are so regularly in conflict. Let’s face it, people are very difficult to get along with – not you, of course, but those other people. You know who they are.
The conflict could be within our families, in our workplaces, our neighborhoods or really in any context. The idea of trying to work it out first one-on-one saves everyone trouble, and avoids any embarrassment as well. Including two or three witnesses also keeps it pretty well contained, and helps to ensure that people are hearing each other clearly. Finally, taking it to the community as a last step offers a chance for the issue to be finally resolved.
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His Cross, Your Cross
This week we’ve got to do a “Previously on Good Shepherd” like they do on TV shows. Those of you streaming this at home can skip ahead a couple of minutes. (Just a moment, I’m buffering.)
Last week we joined Jesus and his disciples at a pagan shrine in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked them who they say he is. Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus gives Peter a gold star for the day and says that is the rock upon which he will build his Church, and through the Church the Kingdom of God will take shape in the world.
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Identity
This morning’s readings speak to the question of identity. Who are we, really? We tend to think of that in terms of where we were raised, what we do and other sorts of tags of what is called social location, as though we could be plotted on a map. But it’s more like an ever-shifting sea.
And identity isn’t just about us as individuals. All of those markers place us in groups and as such we take on those identities, too. The history of those groups is our history. That can be anything from sharing joy in Lake Wales High School winning a state championship to cherishing our Declaration of Independence.
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