There was once a very holy man who
lived as a hermit in the woods.[1] Day in and day out, he sought the Lord
in simplicity, solitude and prayer.
Yet as his reputation for wise counsel grew, he was often visited by
those seeking guidance.
One day, the saintly hermit was stirred
from contemplation by a knock on his door. A young disciple of the Lord, who was very fond of the holy
man, asked this question:
“How do I deal with opposition from the
people?” the young man asked. Nicholas
tied a knot in his rope and asked the disciple to untie the knot. He was able to do so with ease.
“Now do the same with the problems
you’re facing with the people,” Nicholas instructed.
But his young disciple protested, “But
it is not as effortless as that.”
Nicholas responded, “I would not be
able to untie this knot in the rope either if we both pulled on each end at the
same time. Yet that is always the
way people try to resolve their problems.”[2]
Untying knots.
The wisdom of such a tale can apply to so many situations. I wonder how many Protestants and
Catholics find themselves in a never-ending tug-of-war, pulling on one end of
the rope only to find the knot of tension growing larger between them? Perhaps it was a wound suffered at the
hands of “the other” that made you pick up the rope and start tugging from the
beginning? You might find yourself
in a relationship today, perhaps a family member or co-worker, where tensions
are high and reconciliation seems distant.
Have you ever thought of dropping the rope and moving, with
tenderness and mercy, toward the other?
What might happen if we cooled our infatuation with being “right” and
spent our energy on building right
relationship? Think about it
for a second. I’m sure you can
come up with a person or group or situation that is tying knots in your stomach
today.
Jesus reminds us, “If you are offering your gift at the
altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there in front of the altar.
First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your
gift.”[3] Right relationship with God is
intimately bound with right relationship with one another. Throw yourself on the altar of
humility. Be reconciled with your
brother or sister. Drop your end
of the rope and embrace the reconciliation that only God can bring. God is untying knots already.
[1] This story is drawn from the life of Nicholas de
Flüe, 15th century hermit and patron saint of Switzerland. After distinguishing himself as a
fearless soldier, de Flüe felt the call to leave his worldly life and devote
himself to God through contemplation and the ascetic life. His reputation for holiness was
widespread throughout Europe and his wise counsel has been recognized by both
Protestants and Catholics for contributing to the enduring national unity in
Switzerland.
[2] This humble figure was brought to my attention by
Melinda Prunty, friend and current Director of Youth Ministry in the Diocese of
Owensboro, KY. Melinda’s master’s
thesis, a beautiful reflection entitled “Ecumenism Today: Untying Knots,” was
inspired by this story which she discovered in the work of French Dominican,
Yves Congar. See Yves Congar O.P.,
After Nine Hundred Years: The Background
of the Schism Between the Eastern and Western Churches (New York: Fordham
University Press, 1959), 78-79.
[3] Mt 4:23.
I am humbled.....and honored.....and grateful.....as a former Protestant, unity in THE CHURCH is a passion of mine.....I'm not exactly sure what that's supposed to look like, but I pray for it, work towards it, long for it....what does Satan have to do but stand off on the sidelines and blow on his nails while we beat each other up over many things that ultimately won't matter at the end of time. I think of Jesus praying "so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me" John 17:21. Are you tugging or untying?
ReplyDeleteI'm untying Melinda! Thanks for your courageous work in the Diocese of Owensboro!
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