How do we handle division?
About the Christ, "They were deeply divided in their beliefs about Jesus."
By Steve Hessman
If you want to get down to basics, the Bible is about the division of Good vs. Evil. Taking refuge in our Lord won't always end division, but it will give us more peace dealing with it and will make it easier to pray for our own conversion and for those we don't agree with.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Jeremiah 11:18-20
John 7:14-33
Living in the United States, we certainly experience "division" in politics, religion, philosophy, and sports. You could go on and on. Lou spoke about division in his Reflection a couple of weeks ago and stated, "Remember the origin of the word demon comes from the word division." So, looking back through the Old Testament, division started with the fallen angels (Demons), followed by Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, and then Cain killing Abel. If you want to get down to basics, the Bible is about the division of Good vs. Evil.
The first reading, from Jeremiah the prophet, can be interpreted as a prophecy of the plots to be hatched against Jesus, fulfilled in what we read in today's Gospel.
The Gospel reading is about "division" that occurred when Jesus began his public ministry. Chapter seven begins with Jesus not wanting to go to Judea because "the Jews sought to kill him." His disciples encourage him to go, to teach, and perform good works, and he does.
That brings us to today's verses in the middle of a dialogue Jesus was having with the Pharisees. A large crowd of people was listening to their discussion. Some people believed Jesus was "the Prophet," as promised in Deuteronomy chapter 18. Others believed that He was the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior whom God promised to send. However, other people disputed this claim. After all, they believed Jesus was from Galilee and the Scriptures had prophesied that the Christ would come from Bethlehem. They were deeply divided in their beliefs about Jesus.
Some of the people asked the guards to arrest Jesus, but no one would do so. The guards went back to the Pharisees in a quandary. They anticipated that the Pharisees and the chief priests would wonder why they had not brought Jesus to them. When the Pharisees asked them why they had not arrested Jesus, the guards responded, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." Clearly, the guards were awed and amazed at Jesus and his teaching. The Pharisees scolded them, "Have you also been deceived?
It is not surprising that the Pharisees were angry with the guards. After all, guards were not supposed to think for themselves. They were to do as they had been instructed. The guards knew that the Pharisees would not be pleased that they did not follow their orders, but they were caught in the middle; they didn't arrest Jesus as instructed, and they were willing to defend their decision. They had experienced the authority of Jesus for themselves. In addition, Jesus had not broken any laws. He was a threat to the Pharisees. In conscience, the guards could not and would not arrest Jesus.
In the midst of all this, Nicodemus, who was also a Pharisee, speaks up. He asks his fellow Pharisees if Jewish law allows someone to be condemned before listening to the individual's defense. At the very least, the Pharisees should question any person before arresting them. As you might imagine, the Pharisees were angry and outraged at Nicodemus' criticism and interference. They ridiculed Nicodemus, asking him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." To the Pharisees, Jesus was an outsider: he was from Galilee.
I don't see any attempt in scripture to try and resolve the Division between the Pharisees and Jesus, or those who support Jesus. I decided to check the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
In paragraph 595, we read: Among the religious authorities of Jerusalem, not only were the Pharisee Nicodemus and the prominent Joseph of Arimathea both secret disciples of Jesus, but there was also long-standing dissension about him, so much so that St. John says of these authorities on the very eve of Christ's Passion, "many... believed in him," though very imperfectly. (Jn 12:42; cf. 7:50; 9:16-17; 10:19-21; 19:38-39)
This is not surprising if one recalls that on the day after Pentecost, "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith" and "some believers... belonged to the party of the Pharisees," to the point that St. James could tell St. Paul, "How many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed; and they are all zealous for the Law." (Acts 6:7; 15:5; 21:20)
How should we deal with Divisions?
We can find one answer in the CCC paragraph 791 referring to "One Body" in the Creed: "The body's unity does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In the building up of Christ's Body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only one Spirit who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the Church."The unity of the Mystical Body produces and stimulates charity among the faithful: "From this, it follows that if one member suffers anything, all the members suffer with him, and if one member is honored, all the members together rejoice." 1Cor 12:26"
Finally, the unity of the Mystical Body triumphs over all human divisions: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:27-28)
In discussion about the Our Father, this is said: "Finally, if we pray the Our Father sincerely, we leave individualism behind, because the love that we receive frees us from it. The "our" at the beginning of the Lord's Prayer, like the "us" of the last four petitions, excludes no one. If we are to say it truthfully, our divisions and opposition have to be overcome. (Cf. Mt 5:23-24; 6:14-15) (CCC, paragraph 2792).
All of this leads me to today's Responsorial Psalm, "O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge."
This sounds a little bit like a "Last Resort" move when in reality, it should be our "Go To" prayer or action every day. It parallels or is encompassed in the theme we have reflected on many times — "Surrender."
Taking refuge in our Lord won't always end division, but it will give us more peace dealing with it and will make it easier to pray for our own conversion and for those we don't agree with.