Arguing with the Almighty

Being honest in our relationships

Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,  “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,  and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,  you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,  how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,  but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

          Have you heard the old adage, “No one fights like family”? Whitney Otto in his novel, “How to Make an American Quilt” captured the same sentiment when he wrote, “No one fights dirtier or more brutally than blood; only family knows its own weaknesses, the exact placement of the heart.” And because we know the placement of the heart we can target it with a torpedo of criticisms and complaints! Right? But is all fighting and arguing bad? I don’t think so. For instance, Msgr. George Tribou was tough on Catholic High School boys, just like Msgr. William Galvin was demanding on Immaculate Conception parishioners, not because they didn’t like them, but because they loved them. John Maxwell says that a leader “cares enough to correct.” You see, no one fights like family because only a family cares enough to correct, which often involves arguing and cajoling, and complaining and criticizing.

           In the gospel we see Jesus shows his love for Jerusalem not with sugary sweet sayings but with criticism and correction. He laments over his beloved city, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!” You see, Jerusalem and Jesus can have this brutally honest dialogue because they truly love each other; indeed, honest argument and communication is a sign of genuine love. In other words, like Tribou and Galvin, Jesus cares enough to correct.

          My friends, try to hear that old adage, “No one fights like family” not as a bad thing, but as a good thing, heck even as a family’s badge of honor. That is, fighting that is respectful and constructive shows that you care enough to correct; it shows that you care. With all due respect, I would even encourage you to carry that honesty into your relationship with God. In your prayer don’t be so polite that you hide your heart from God. Tell him what you really think. One day things were going really bad for St. Teresa of Avila and she prayed to God to help her. God replied, “This is how I treat those whom I love.” Teresa shot back, “Well, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few!” Teresa of Avila knew how to argue with the Almighty because she knew “the placement of God’s heart.” “No one fights dirtier or more brutally than blood; only family knows its own weaknesses, the exact placement of the heart.” And that, my friends, is not such a bad thing.

           Praised be Jesus Christ!