Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Twenty Third Sunday of the Year, A – September 10, 2017

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:2.6-7abc.7d-9(R.7d,8a);

 Rom 13:8-10 & Gospel Matthew 18:15-20.

Theme: Let Go & Let God

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, this Sunday’s Gospel (Mt 18:15-20) provides us with a fourfold blueprint for conflict management.  This recipe for settling conflicts which Jesus presents include: Talking to the person alone, taking one or two trustworthy persons, reporting to the community and treating the person as a pagan or tax collector. As we reflect on the implications of this submission, we shall consider conflict and its types, the possible causes of conflict in society, Jesus’ strategy for conflict management vis-à-vis contemporary strategies in conflict management as well as some take-home lessons.

Conflict and its types

Since there is conflict about how to define conflict, conflict is the misunderstanding that occurs among people as a result of language barrier, differences, perceived fears, anxieties and unresolved external or internal pressures.

Social Conflicts arise when one or two have incompatible interests which causes struggle between them; Intercultural Conflicts are tensions that occur between people of different cultural backgrounds; Pseudo Conflicts take place when people disagree based on perceptions and misunderstanding and Genuine Conflicts exist as part of the natural human condition.

Organisational Conflicts, arise due to disagreement or debate among people in an organisation based on issues and values not personality. Types of Organisational Conflicts include, Latent Conflict which occur due to ccompetition for scarce resources, drive for autonomy, and divergence of sub-unit goals; Perceived Conflict, which involve issues in an organisation which pose as time-bomb which if not properly handled, can lead to a disaster; Felt Conflict involve personal conflicts which are actually felt and recognised; Manifest Conflict are conflicts that happen between two parties which evokes negative or positives responses. Accordingly, Conflict Aftermath entails all negative or positive attempts to resolve a conflict.

Possible Causes of Conflicts

1. Undue Competition: Undue competition in the family, school premises, business environment, work-place and church often leads to rivalry and dissension in the society. This has been identified as the cause of most conflicts in the world.

2. Overt Selfishness: One of the greatest challenges which most human beings are guilty of is selfishness – what Bishop KUKAH calls myownised mentality. The adultery, murder, theft and covetousness which St. Paul warns about in the second reading (Rom. 13:8-1) are committed due to selfishness.

3. Excessive Materialism: Most economic problems and financial instability in society occur due to the rat race mentality which sees material possessions as panacea to all human problems. The evil effects of excessive materialism are seen in murder cases which take place as a result of fights for land or other forms of family inherence.  

4. Poor Communication: The most common cause of conflict in any group is poor communication. Poor communication ranges from lack of understanding the other person or misinterpreting him or her. Lack of feedback mechanism is also tied to poor communication. Where people are paranoid, there is bound to be conflict.  

5 Differences in Personality and Values: Difference in personality traits or value orientation often causes conflict in any society. Failure to realize that MR. A has a different temperament from MR. B breeds conflict. Inability to understand and appreciate the value orientations of people such as family, educational, cultural, religious and political persuasions brings about conflict and even wars.

Jesus’ Strategy for Conflict Management

1. Dyadic or Interpersonal Approach: In the face of conflict, Jesus insists on sorting it out alone with the person as a first step. Talking to the person alone falls under dyadic or interpersonal approach which emanates from intrapersonal communication – resolving within oneself to seek reconciliation with an aggrieved party. He notes that if the person listens, it means you have won back your brother or sister and the case is closed. If that doesn’t work, the next step becomes necessary.