A Friday Reflection on Division and Weakness

Last night, I was on Relevant Radio for a bit with Fr. Steve Grunow from Word on Fire with host Sheila Liaugminas.

We talked largely about St. Joseph and Pope Francis and the upcoming year of mercy. (Some of my thoughts on the latter are included in this Catholic News Agency piece.)

I live-tweeted some of what Fr. Grunow said:

We receive a mission from Christ and then we disappear into it #StJoseph @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

Division in the Church weakens us @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

Divisions in the church foment and exacerbate division in the culture @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

The culture darkens when we conceal our light @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

The culture sours when we are not salt @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

We are hallowed out by materialism…. We need to be vessels of mercy. @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

A jubilee year is something we all do as a Church… It might just be the healing remedy we need @FrSteveGrunow on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

In light of that conversation, this morning I’ve been thinking about something Pope Francis said in talking with Orthodox Christians some months ago, in the context of talking about the threats to the very existence of Christianity in the Middle East: “How can we credibly proclaim the message of peace which comes from Christ if there continues to be rivalry and disagreement between us?” There’s an urgency in that plea. This was a big theme of his journey last May to the Holy Land. And it’s not just about the Orthodox and Rome and East and West. It’s inside the walls of the Vatican, our Catholic institutions, our political engagements, our homes. it’s one, too, that is a matter for our hearts and lives. Who has done us a wrong, has hurt us, who we have not forgiven? Who do we simply refuse to talk to, resent, even hate?

Father Grunow also said:

It is in acts of compassion and forgiveness that are undeserved that God reveals his love for us @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) March 19, 2015

Prayers for peace are not a pleasant sentiment. They are the power of Heaven in a fallen, conflicted, poisoned, souring world and require Lenten action.