Religion & Spirituality
When people passionately disagree with one another there are only two types of peace that can exist between them. There's an uneasy sort of peace that happens when people agree not to talk about or bring up a subject. Then there's the peace that can only come when all the cards have been set out on the table, when everyone has had a chance to tell the truth and say what they need to say. One of these is much messier and more difficult than the other... Unfortunately I think I know which one Jesus wants for us in this Gospel lesson... and it starts with telling the truth. Telling the truth can be the hardest thing in the world. It doesn't matter whether you are a four year old who just broke a vase or a 40 year old trying to make it through thanksgiving dinner without fighting over politics, each of us has those moments where we struggle to tell the truth about what we've done, what we believe or what we think. Telling the truth can put our relationships in jeopardy, it can cut us off from those we love. It can put us at odds with powerful people and institutions, and even put our very lives in danger, but the only path to true peace goes straight through the truth and we never walk that path alone.