"Every Kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste." Lk 11:17
Divisions within ourselves, our families and our faith communities, while natural and in some ways necessary, are painful and confusing. Too often in contemporary society we feel divided within ourselves. We have obligations to our families, our churches, our employers, our parents and so much more. When we fail to attend to any or all of these, we become harried and guilty. Unable to pay attention to everyone and everything at once, we excuse ourselves but don't change our lifestyles.
The same reality holds true in our relationships with our families and faith communities. Not infrequently, concerned that people could not possibly do one more thing, I would worry about parishioners who gave what seemed like too much time and effort to the church. Hesitant to suggest they let someone else assume a leadership role for fear they would walk away in anger or hurt, I would watch as these friends of God exhausted themselves in the service of others to the detriment of their personal or family health.
Jesus warns his adversaries about this. Divided among themselves concerning how best to live the Law, they accuse Jesus of all manner of faults but the Lord sees through them. Unable to heal one another or find common ground, they shift their focus to a "scapegoat" who, for a few minutes or days, will free them from self reflection and arrogance. Unless we find ways to reflect upon and change our obsessive patterns, everyone will be unhappy.
Today, take 10 minutes to sit, breathe and reflect.
How do you adjust to an impossible daily schedule?
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