A sign of resistance

Because of these differences, people have split. People discuss many things and sometimes argue passionately. But not everything causes a split. The division into two camps is everywhere where differences of opinion have direct consequences for life. Such a scenario is the case in politics, where government power is at stake; in business, where large sums of money are at stake; and in families, when they argue about inheritance. Unfortunately, there have been and still are major religious disputes. We regret these occurrences. It would be wonderful if we could discuss matters of faith gently and calmly, listen to the concerns and views of others, and maintain epilogvictions. The Second Vatican Council promotes this kind of epilogue dialogue. However, we are aware that difficulties will always arise. True religion plays a deep role in life. There, interests apart from purely religious ones clash, and passions and hatreds are awakened. For dialogue without division to be possible, a spiritual attitude is required on all sides.

Nicodemus: According to our law, can someone be condemned before they have been heard and their actions are understood? When dialogue degenerates into an argument, mutual accusations begin. This is usually unfair because it is one-sided. How should one behave in such a situation? Nicodemus set an example. Although he belonged to the side that stood against Jesus, he demanded a fair and impartial judgment. However, he was rebuked by his own people. In turbulent situations, people demand that you think in terms of party, i.e. according to which side you belong to. Someone once objected: Doesn’t the church demand something similar? The answer is not difficult. We accept the church’s opinion on doctrine, but the church does not officially take a position on individuals. If mistakes have been made in this regard in the past, we regret them today. Therefore, we should feel regret whenever disagreements take us further than is just or Christian.

Some wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him. The easiest way to resolve a conflict seems to be to destroy the adversary: to kill or exclude them from society. Christians have faced this danger throughout history, and even today, they continue to find themselves in conflict. The Gospel of St John mentions several times that the Jews wanted to eliminate Jesus, but this did not happen because his hour had not yet come (John 7:30). Hatred against Christians cannot be explained solely in psychological, political or national terms. It is part of the struggle that evil has waged against God since the beginning of time. God therefore protects his faithful until the moment when the ultimate sacrifice is required of them. Those whom God calls to this mission are also given special strength and grace to accept it with love and gratitude, and with hope in the victory of Christ and their own.dialog