We are bound to encounter individuals who differ in opinions, thoughts, and perspectives in our everyday life. Differences occur within the Church too, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. The tension that we experience when these surface can help us grow in understanding, faith, fruitfulness, and more.

What is most notable in today’s Scripture readings is the way that St. Paul engaged in difficult dialogues with the leaders of Jerusalem while seeking to preserve unity among the communities. We are invited to consider how we too, can have difficult conversations without fragmenting relationships in our own communities. How can we get better at having “conversations in the spirit”, seeking to understand and to grow in union with one another through the differences that surface along the way?