John 5:30-33
“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn’t he?”
“ I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.”
Christ’s life is a model for our own. He was not a solo operation but part of a holy community, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, communicating faithfully amongst themselves. Let us ask ourselves if we have done likewise when things go sideways in the church. Like Christ, we must remain in community with our brothers, awaiting orders during the occasional sibling spat, and communicating honestly.
Lord, it is so hard to follow your example when conflict rears amongst us. Forgive me for giving in to anger in the past. Keep me rooted in you when disagreements arise in the future. Guard my tongue and may my words come only from you.