Differences, Disputations and Dialogue

WORD 2day: Saturday, 23rd week in Ordinary time

September 12, 2026: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; Lk 6: 43-49

We live in a world of absolute pluralism today. Gone are those days when societies in Asia like India or many such were singled out for their pluralistic nature. Not just those, but almost every society, all over the world experiences a context and culture of pluralism. Everyone finds one's neighbour different - different in his or her creed or convictions or value systems. In this regard, there are those who appreciate this fact, and there are those who find it too difficult to manage - either due to its complexities or due to their own self centered motives.

In such a situation, what should be a true Christian disposition? Can it be one of disputation, debate or delirious defense? The result would range from a kind of disrespectful cynicism to a hateful dissent. Are those fruits proper to a tree that is Christian? It if has to be called 'Christian', how can anything be its fruit other than love: for by this they will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.

If so, what would be the right disposition? Compromise? Relativism? An anything-is-ok mentality? No, Never, says St.Paul in today's first reading. Between Controversies and Compromise, there is something called Comprehension. That, that alone is the need of the hour today. An attitude of mature Dialogue.

What would be the use of talking so much about God as love and about Christ's teachings of a forgiving and forbearing love, if we do not begin to live it, wherever we are? Will we not be foolish builders, building our beach side castles? Let us form ourselves into solid buildings of enduring love and never failing faith, that we may teach the whole world the lifestyle of true love - that would consist of celebrating difference, handling disputations and growing towards genuine dialogue!

The need for training

WORD 2day: Friday, 23rd week in Ordinary time

September 11, 2026: I Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b -27; Luke 6: 39-42.

The readings today insist on the need to be trained in being an apostle.

We are all apostles; each of us, by virtue of our baptism. That call is not merely a privilege, it is an obligation too, a duty and a demand placed on me. Considering it merely a matter of boast leads to some unfortunate developments within the faith community, situations such as infighting, ego clashes, jealousy, unchristian 'politricks'...and other demonic tendencies. The Gospel calls those with these tendencies: blind leading the blind and both into the pit!

Instead, taking the call seriously leads one to a fuller realisation of the gift that it is and of the demands it places. One of the important demands is to be trained! Both St.Paul and Jesus, today speak of this training. This apprenticeship of life and life style is a task, not merely of the intellect or the skill-set... it is a matter of holistic shaping.

It would consist of fundamentally three things: first, humble acceptance of the call to be an apostle. This would mean a balance between a boastful claim of the status of an apostle and a unwarranted debasing of oneself based on the human frailties that are common to all.

The second need is, attentive listening to the Word that comes to us. This would mean keeping one's eyes and ears open to observe every bit of what the Lord wants to communicate through events, persons and extraordinary signs. Once we lose them, we cannot be truly messengers of the Lord, that is apostles.

The third is, a diligent practice of the Word that is heard, seen and experienced. Hearing and not acting is lying, St. James would say. And Jesus would compare that to building your home on a loose sand - your fall from glory will be too soon, and too grave.

Falling short of these three steps in our training, would make us either arrogant bigwigs or pretentious bullies but never trained disciples and apostles. Hence the need to be trained is precisely for this singular purpose: to gradually grow into the image of the Master, who has called us!