Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
I recently participated in the Pro-Life March in DC. There is a lot that could be said about the power of a common cause. All around us, there were many people with whom I disagreed with about a whole range of topics, but there was a common cause. Whether people were from what an atheist pro-life friend calls the misfits, or they were carrying signs advocating for overcoming abortion by throwing off capitalism or they were using this time to share their support of Trump or they were carrying a "Don't Abort / Don't Deport" sign, they had found some common ground upon which to gather. Even if they can't agree if they are protesting, advocating, marching, or demonstrating there is an assumption that there should be unity. Our interactions with one man, reminded me that sometimes in the divisiveness of the world, we can forget that Lord brings life and healing from authentic unity.
There was one man who was a sidewalk preacher. He was right next to us as we waited to find friends we were going to walk with. He had a big black sign with scripture quotes printed on it and he had brought his own microphone and amplifier. He had come to the March because he was going to preach and he was going to save Catholics from the snares of the devil. This is not an assumption. When someone tried to speak to him respectfully he (still on his megaphone) said that "He belonged to Christ." She in turn agreed and said "I do too," to which he replied, "No you belong to the devil."
She disengaged and he wandered down the sidewalk but the whole exchange came to mind as I read today's readings. I am not saying that this man is guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I just want that to be clear. But I do think the scribes in today's gospel and that man showcase that we can sometimes be overcome by the normalcy of division in our world.
The Jews of Jesus' times were divided into sects, like the Christians of our time are divided. However, like David before him, Jesus has won a victory in which we all can be united. While David overcame earthly challenges, Jesus won a spiritual victory. His victory was against the enemy from the first fall - Satan, sin, and death. And yet, as he showcases his coming victory in his ministry of healing and delivering. The scribes, in turn, so indoctrinated by divisiveness, focus not on their alliance with Jesus against a common foe, but on undermining him. But we all likely have areas where we make lesser differences take precedence over true concerns. When are we most tempted to make enemies of potential allies against sin, injustice, and the work of evil in order to accentuate the differences between each other? This is not to say that those differences aren't real or significant, but which differences we likely to give undue priority? When and how can we remember unity? How can we give the Spirit, who fosters all true unity, more room to work in our lives?
- Spencer Hargadon