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Yet differences arise, divisions form. The people of Jesus’ day questioned how best to handle such conflicts, particularly when they occurred at the most intimate level. The Pharisees in today’s Gospel look to tradition to guide them; Jesus suggests another approach. Rather than relying on codified responses based on human understandings, Jesus speaks of a deeper source of wisdom. Resolving conflicts according to human precepts resembles staying at the surface level rather than risking a deeper dive into mysterious Divine Love.
Instead of staying on the surface level, Jesus’ method involves considering God’s will, opening ourselves to Divine purpose. Prayer and discernment prepare us to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God rather than being governed by outside authorities or egotistical desires. The commitment to live in tune with the gentle movements of the Spirit within us calls for a child-like trust in a Higher Power - a Power that serves as an alternative source of wisdom and direction.
In his book, Place Me with Your Son, James W. Skehan, S.J. offers a metaphor for living a discerning life. We are to sit at the Lord’s Table so that the God’s values might be imprinted on us. If we live in this manner, we will find that “our concern is not primarily with the morality of good or bad actions, but rather with how the Lord affects us and moves us, commonly quite spontaneously and in the depths of our consciousness.”