By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Man … sometimes the world seems so topsy-turvy and filled with strife, bitterness and hatred. Strife in the streets, strife in halls of government, beaucoup strife in social media, and even (age-old) strife between—and even within—religions. As mentioned here before, the strongest argument against Christianity is often Christians themselves, or rather Christians acting far afield from the teachings of Jesus … not to mention the seemingly infinite number of denominations, all teaching different variations. Yet, it seems that other religions have this same type of dilemma; everyone wants to interpret things in their own way.

One of the oft-quoted scriptures is Jesus’ “ … the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things …” (John 14:26) Yet, if that were an unqualified fact, then why do Christian denominations differ from each other? Is the Spirit confused? Or, rather, do we humans tend to listen to our own “spirit”, spurred by likes and dislikes and personal beliefs of right and wrong, heavily influenced by the standards and values of the world or one’s own culture. One would be hard-pressed to find the “perfect” Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, etc., because it all depends on what standard of “perfection” one is adhering to.

Doubtless there are saints and sinners in any religion, even by their most liberal standards. In Jewish and Christian faiths, we see this in our history, often described warts and all. Adam and Eve fail, Cain kills Abel, Jacob deceives his father, Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery, and even “God’s beloved”—David—falls to temptation with a married woman, even arranging her husband’s death. Solomon, wiser than all, sinned in his idolatry. No, no one in any faith is perfect; when the world’s standard is not your religion, swimming upstream against the world’s current can be exhausting and periods of weakness lead to failure.

But the sincere at least strive always to come closer to perfection, like boxers rising up after being knocked to the mat. Oftentimes the struggle itself that us closer to that goal, reminding of us of: “ … we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us …” (Romans 5:3-4)

After all, is this not true in any of life’s worthwhile endeavors—that struggle and hardship lead to greater ability, and thereby confidence? The student spends long hours in study, the athlete in exercise, the soldier in training … all to gain greater proficiency. Thus we teach the young to try, try again and to not accept defeat. For no one is a born Olympian or genius; all have to work at perfecting themselves (though it may be maddeningly easier for some than others!).

Christian history is replete with such moral stories, such as the ancient story of a self-righteous monk who demanded punishment for another monk who eat a crust of bread during a fasting period (oh, the horror!!). The superior, exasperated with the accuser’s self-righteousness, prayed: “Lord, let him experience even a small portion of the difficulty of the temptation of the accused,” after which the superior found the accuser gorging himself in the pantry.

Such stories illustrate the reason that St. Paul reminds us: “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand,” (Romans 14:4), and “[Those] We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak …” (Romans 15:1) And, of course, Jesus’ own famous admonition: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Not that we can’t guide others by teaching the good; in fact, we are called to do so. What greater act of love toward a human being is there than to help lead them to better themselves; for Christians, to lead toward the good that Christ is and the salvation we believe He offers? Should we not have the hope of St. Paul: “… the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing,  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth … “ (2 Timothy 2:24)

But how do we know that we are on the right path? Christians can resort to a warning of Jesus Himself: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

So, it becomes bittersweet when the faithful find themselves at odds with others and subjected to harsh criticism. But Jesus prophesied that it would be so for His faithful. It is bitter in the attacks and, most of all, the sorrow at those who are at odds with the goodness propounded by the faith, yet sweet in the thought of (hopefully) being on the right path. On the flip side, if the world in its values loves us, especially if we force-fit faith to accord with the world, we might want to reexamine what we are expounding in light of Jesus’ explicit warning.

So, O Christian, when following the Way, fear not invectives and criticisms of the world. Did Jesus not assure us: “ …do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell …” (Luke 12:4-5). Find your consolation in knowing that the path we tread has been trodden by countless others, and when disturbed by criticism and challenge, solace in Jesus’ pledge: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven …“ (Matthew 5:11)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.