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Message from Pastor

Dear brothers and sisters,

I once heard the conflicts that arise in our everyday relationships compared to an elastic band that ties us to the person with whom we have hurt one another. Sometimes those bonds are relatively easy to loosen by talking openly and facing the problem with generosity. At other times, the knot becomes complicated and remains for years, creating an emotional bond that never seems to loosen despite the passing of time.

Conflict is part of life, and it is very difficult to avoid it completely. The important question is how we choose to face it. When we adopt an attitude that distances us from others, leads us to ignore them, or causes us to look at them through resentment that remains within us, that knot becomes increasingly difficult to untangle.

This Sunday, Jesus teaches us to look others directly in the face, not to distance ourselves from our brother or sister and, even less, to ignore them in our hearts.

With great realism, and fully aware that reconciliation and a return to the way things once were are not always possible, Jesus asks us to be willing to take the first step. He asks us to speak privately—or, when necessary, with the help of another person—with someone whom we see making a mistake or losing their way.

Indifference means allowing our brother or sister to die within our heart, and unfortunately, it is often the path we choose when we have been hurt by others. Jesus reminds us that we are called to care for one another, because it is within the community—even when that community is small and seemingly insignificant—that He continues to make Himself present in our lives.

To care for our brothers and sisters is to bring fraternity into a world that so often pushes us toward individualism and indifference.

Jesus challenges us to approach others with the attitude of one who listens to understand, and not simply to argue back; of one who approaches to heal, and not merely to judge or condemn.

Conflict is often unavoidable, but we can prevent prejudice, assumptions about another person’s intentions, resentment, and indifference from taking root in our hearts.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him about his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.”

Have a blessed Sunday!

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Read full Message from Rev. Alejandro Marca Mansilla