The Way and the Truth to Resolve Conflicts

Reflection for 5^th Sunday of Easter

(Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12)

1.0. The Conflict

An internal conflict broke out among the early Christian community! This was scandalous looking at their profession of faith and history. The Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. This misunderstanding arose from innate human sentiments of favouritism, jealousy, etc. This sort of scandal has been in the Church, which also is seen in Christian homes. Every church community is marked with one internal struggle or the other. The effect of this is that it disrupts the preaching and spread of the word of God—the assimilation of grace and the practice of virtue. How did the apostles resolve the conflict?

2.0. Conflict Resolution

From the wisdom of the apostles we have the best method to resolve conflicts. First they recognized the bone of contention and the parties involved. Secondly, the identified the cost effect of the conflict i.e. the pending implications that will affect their core values. “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Thirdly, they avoided allotting blames i.e. identifying who was guilty and who was innocent. Instead they decided to allot responsibilities. So they selected seven representatives from the interest groups, and delegated their powers to them. By so doing, these representatives would no longer represent their groups to the apostles; instead, the seven deacons would represent the apostles to the whole people. In a family or group, where there is too much centralization of power, there will mostly be inefficiency and looming conflict. Thus the apostles would now have more time to promote their core values: prayer and preaching the word of God.

3.0. “To see me is to see the Father”

If we allow conflicts to tear us apart, how can our hearts ascend to Jesus? It is mostly worries and dragging of things of this earth that bring misunderstanding. Here, our minds and emotions are buried in human gain and pleasure, then jealousy and division set in. But Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms...” Our secret thoughts and emotions—the contemplation of our hearts—should not lose sight of the real treasure in Heaven. The friendship and treasure we have in Jesus must form our core values, such that whatever distracts us from Him should be treated as a conflict to be resolved! Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” If our hearts are not resolved in Christ Jesus, then our conflicts cannot be resolved! If we follow our own way, and try to promote our self-defined truth, and preserve our life, at most, we get a compromised agreement, which does not give lasting peace and eternal life.

Therefore, Jesus becomes the living stone, chosen and precious, in which we build our lives, family and Church. Then we are “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Sometimes when we have internal struggles and conflicts, we do not want to involve Jesus. But the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Like the apostles, Jesus must the reason, for He is the king of peace. He is Kingdom of God in our midst. He said to Philip, “He who has seen me has seen the Father...” So our hearts need not worry who is for us or against you. The foretaste of the Kingdom of God we enjoy now in Jesus will keep us secure. As St Peter said in the second reading, we become “A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday May 10^th, 2020.