Ineffective Communication
How do you convince someone who believes he is right that he may be wrong?
And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." - Matthew 22:31-32
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus is challenged by the Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection.
Because Jesus knows which books of The Bible they study and follow, Jesus quotes from one of them, from Exodus, silencing them.
We don't often think of going to Jesus for an appreciation of effective communication methods, but that is exactly what is going on here. He is able to speak to people with the words and images they understand, from fishermen to lawyers and teachers.
It is not an easy thing to do. How often have we tried to explain our position on an issue, only to insult the person who thinks we are talking down to them?
And how often do we get caught off guard because the argument becomes too technical or the person cites references we do not know?
Like lawyers prepping for trial, we need to be ready to know what will be asked and what sources are being used. We cannot and should not enter into a discussion with emotion and opinion as our only weapons.
Now you can argue that when the Sadducees walked away, their minds were not changed. Their beliefs may have remained intact, and I think that is the point.
Jesus showed respect for their beliefs, even as he told them they were wrong.
If we cannot respect each other's opinions as valid in our eyes, how can we discuss our differences openly?
Back in elementary school, we were given an assignment to debate a highly controversial topic. The teacher assigned the position each of us would take, either pro or con.
Whether we agreed with that position or not, we had to make a case for it, a case that would withstand an assault from the other side.
Supposedly, we learned to value the process. Being prepared meant having all the facts and opinions laid out and being ready to cite examples the other side would understand and appreciate or relate to.
I may not be able to change your mind, but I can help you understand what is going on in mine.
That is what Jesus did, and those who thought he was crazy or a rebel walked away trying to decide if they were right or wrong in their assessment.
This is how I think we need to engage today. The degree of polarity on current events is not the frightful enemy we may think it is. The country can survive disagreement.
What we cannot survive is seeing each other as evil. When we do that, we throw communication out the window and reach for our clubs.
More to come...