Reflection for 5th
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 By so doing, these representatives would no longer represent their groups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 10th, 2020.
