This week we get to hear about dissension among Christians. This is not news even when we think of our Lord during his earthly ministry. Even in the physical presence of the Master the apostles were fighting one another for status. Yet, the Lord says in the gospel that his gift to the disciples is peace: "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (Jn 14: 27) Dissension is of the world: "Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these..." (2 Cor 5: 19-21) To his end it is incumbent on Catholics to consider all matters of the faith in the light not of the world but of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, as we pray in the Nicene Creed: "has spoken through the prophets," however we say immediately following that: "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." Dissensions often occur underpinned by personal rivalries. The Church needs to act in communion to proclaim and live the faith knowing that when we do so we will experience the peace that only the Lord can give.
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