Before I Forget&

"I plead with Evodia just as I do with Syntyche; come to some mutual understanding in the Lord"
        St. Paul- to the Philippians- Ch. 4: vs. 2

Usually, when I receive a negative comment about something I've said or done, I try not to get too upset!  Just ask the woman who secretly runs the parish, our fabulous secretary, Teri Shea.  She makes me look good.  And that's the truth.  But, sometimes, I receive letters from folks who don't always understand the big picture.  They become stuck on some small issue and won't let go.  This drives me crazy!
Conflict happens!  People disagree and quarrel.  Resentment builds up in our lives.  All of a sudden, there is controversy. Angry words are spoken.  It happens in families, in friendships, at work, and, believe it or not, even in church.  Especially in the church!  Christians have been fighting with each other since the early church began.
Philippi was one of the first Christian communities organized by St. Paul.  We've been reading Paul's letter to that community for a few weeks now.  But the readings at Mass skipped the part where Paul asks two of his     finest workers, two good women named Evodia and Syntyche, to stop quarreling, to be friends.  He asks the rest of the community to help these two because both of them are good women.  They really hated each other and so he asks the community to intervene.  Boy, can I identify with Paul!  A part of pastoring any parish is trying to get someone to like someone they "hate"!  And, that's the truth!
Why do we get so angry with other people?  Why do we find it so hard to forgive?  What are we suppose to learn about unconditional love... the unconditional love of God?  Have you ever experienced unconditional love?  Love with out strings, love without expectations, love given to you not because you are a "star", but for the simple reason that you are you?  Who really loves you in an unconditional way?  If you can name one person, that's great!  People who cannot name someone go through life with a sense of being inadequate.  What a curse to live with!   
Yes, believe it or not, Catholics can be critical of their priests.  We are not perfect.  I may not like criticism, but I'm learning to handle it because I've been loved unconditionally.  Criticism may bother the best of us, but we can learn to handle it if we are secure in ourselves.  We learn to be secure in ourselves when we are loved unconditionally.
Isn't it fascinating that Jesus never called anyone a sinner?   Jesus had no need to put anyone else down, condemn them, criticize them.  All of His conflicts (yes, even Jesus lived with conflict) were with people who thrived on putting other people down.  Even on the cross he accepted others (the thief hanging next to Him).    Jesus knew unconditional love in his life.  God is all about Unconditional Love& it's that simple.  Too bad the  followers of Christ complicate it.
Paul wanted both Evodia and Syntyche (don't you love those names) to be friends, to quarrel no more& with God's help.   They needed to open their hearts to the unconditional love of God& and so do we.
See you next weekend.  I'm presently on vacation a "little south" of Iowa!!

Fr. Bill