Settling Differences

This weekend, we’ll be reading a passage from St Matthew’s Gospel which the Jerusalem Bible translation entitles ‘Settling Differences’. Jesus shows us a clear and organised way to sort out disagreements, rather than just going head-on. This approach is all about showing respect, being patient and loving.

The first thing to do is talk to the person directly. Jesus suggests having a private chat about any wrongdoings, appreciating each person’s worth. By addressing issues privately, Christians show humility and care, which helps avoid damaging reputations and encourages reconciliation. This is different from how people usually act, which often involves gossiping or avoiding problems. Jesus really likes direct, private and loving conversations.

Next, you might want to involve two or three others. Jewish law needed two or three witnesses, for justice and to stop false accusations. Synagogues also disciplined members to stay faithful. Jesus uses this idea but focuses more on mercy, reconciliation and salvation than on punishment.

Finally, the community comes into play. If private talks don’t work, the matter goes to the Church — the community with the power to help. Ignoring the Church means the person is treated as outside the faith.

Earlier this week I was thinking about this passage, and remembered Leo XIV’s powerful words in his first encyclical. He really emphasised how important dialogue is in building a civilisation of love; he explained that dialogue is the main way people and nations can live together, offering a better option than open conflict. He described dialogue as something that happens all the time in human life, and not just between countries, but with an attitude of wanting to build bonds of fraternity based on listening, openness, making time for each other and even spending time together. He ended by saying that real, genuine encounters with others — especially those who are different, strangers and migrants — make war much harder to imagine.

Last week, we got a letter from the Archdiocese letting us know that the Synodal Process is now in its third phase: ‘making it happen for a Synodal Church’.

This phase will run until December 2026. Each Diocese is invited to share how our understanding of Synodality has changed and how we can bring synodal practices into our parish life. We are encouraged to look at what we already do, in the parish, that supports the Church’s mission — and then make it even better. Synodality means getting together at all levels of the Church to listen to each other, talk and make decisions together. This old way of doing things started with the Council of Jerusalem and the ‘constant ecclesial practice of meeting in synods’. These meetings help us talk, make decisions and work together within the Church.

Let us recite this prayer daily for our parish:

We gather together in Your name, Holy Spirit, and ask You to guide us. Teach us the path we must follow and how to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us foster disorder. Do not allow ignorance to lead us astray or partiality to influence our actions. Let us find unity in You so that we may journey together towards eternal life, remaining steadfast on the path of truth and righteousness. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen