131. Jesus and Conflict: The dispute among the disciples on who is the greatest
Jesus ensured his response did not attempt to favour a party in place of the other by creating a win-win situation.
130. Jesus and Conflict: The woman caught in adultery
If Jesus had consented that the woman should be stoned to death, it would have conflicted with his teaching on love, mercy, and forgiveness, and he would have lost his reputation as a friend of sinners.
129. Jesus and Conflict: Payment of Temple Tax
Jesus showed us another way of avoiding conflict with the ignorant – hold onto your knowledge and play along with them.
128. Jesus and Conflict: Payment of Tax to Caesar
Often, ignorance or poor understanding of the law causes conflict because the implementation of a law by an authority could be misjudged as victimisation, and another party’s interpretation of a law could be misconstrued as discrimination.
127. Jesus and conflict: The tension between Martha and Mary
If Jesus had condemned Martha, it would have meant that Jesus loved Mary more. With Martha being the elder sister, it might not have augured well between the two sisters.
126. Jesus and Conflict: The two brothers
Since Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world and he was not officially part of the rabbinical institutions, he was not competent to judge in the rabbinical courts.
125. Jesus and Conflict: The Samaritans
There is a need for prudence in dealing with conflicts inherited from our parents and conflicts in which we are the third party.
124. Conflict Prevention and Management and Peacebuilding: The Jesus’ strategy
The greatest threat to peace is ego, not because we cannot suppress our ego, but because ego is connected to our identity
123. Did Jesus really need Judas’ betrayal?
For all challenges that have emerged or will still emerge in the Church, the examples of how Christ acted and his words and principles remain a guiding light.
122. Cleansing of the temple: An example of brinkmanship
If we think we are powerful as pastors, let’s remember that people can confront us if their endurance level reaches its limit.