Families fight. What would Jesus do?
Families fight. That’s an ugly truth. People who are supposed to love and protect each other can often be split apart. It always hurts.
Polish National Catholics of all people are aware of how families can bicker. Our whole denomination was formed by a dust-up with our Roman brothers and sisters. Today I see a pretty humongous division over the very definition of what it means to be a Christian in America. I feel a little bit of barf coming up in my mouth at the very mention of the term “Christian Nationalism.” Some of our coreligionists use Christian identity as an excuse to promote intolerance, bigotry, and a reactionary mindset which, to my way of thinking, slanders the name of our Lord and Savior.
I don’t see how “Christian” it is slashing aid to low-income families or cutting out funding for research to eliminate disease. I can’t understand how we solve the gun violence crisis by letting everyone carry a gun. And faith in God’s deliverance is one thing, but ignoring the crisis of climate change is putting the Lord Our God to the test—a test we’re not going to pass.
No question about it: there are divisions within our family. There are people in North Java who think attending Holy Family Catholic parish gets you a ticket to hell. This is simply cruel and a lie. My former parish where I had the humble privilege to serve as shepherd for 12 years are the most generous, compassionate and hard-working farm families in Wyoming County. If your Catholic parish is closing or you are searching for a loving faith community, take yourself to North Java and experience the love of Jesus first hand. Everyone smiles and greets one another at the door and gives you a cup of coffee after the service and asks what can I do for you this week. One more thing, the children in Wyoming county all want to church because Renee their religious teacher, is the most, fun, dynamic and enthusiastic religious education teacher bringing those kids closer to Jesus every Sunday. Get the word out, bring your kids to Renee and meet Jesus.
Whether we’re arguing public policy, church doctrine, or if it’s just a squabble between a parent and a child or a couple of in-laws, each of us thinks we’re arguing from the moral high ground. Our challenge should always be to discern if we’re arguing in obedience to Christ Jesus or from our own pride and stubbornness. Is our indignation born out of faith or a desire to maintain a tribal loyalty? Are we trying to help one another or cling to an ideal which no longer exists or even applies?
What would Jesus do? Can we find it in ourselves to speak and fight for truth but do it out of love? Can there be controversy without contempt? Can we be unyielding without dehumanizing the person with whom we disagree? And are we willing to accept divisions without being complacent about them?
Faith in Jesus has never guaranteed perfect harmony among believers. Just check out the New Testament if you don’t believe me—it’s full of family squabbles. But the beautiful thing is that in Christ, our squabbles can still be full of compassion.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends, especially those who attend Holy Family in North Java, Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral n Lancaster, Holy Trinity in Woodlawn, Divine Mercy in Las Vergas, St. Jude the Apostle in San Antonia and all those churches who are held in contempt by the bias and prejudice of their neighbors. Bless them for their courage, perseverance and faith in your love for one another and all their neighbors.
