These summer days in Omaha and at Creighton University are far from what we would describe as the lazy days of summer.  The city of Omaha is proudly continuing the tradition of hosting the NCAA Baseball College World Series which brings teams and fans from around the country.  The Creighton campus is lively with students attending summer classes and seminars.  Recent high school graduates who will be starting their undergraduate studies at Creighton have been visiting to learn the campus and register for their Fall classes. 

This summer I am teaching an Introduction to Conflict Engagement class for students who are mid-career professionals and are from a wide variety of graduate programs.  One of the key learning points in the class is the transition from the notion of conflict resolution to embracing the approach of conflict engagement.  There are some conflicts that cannot be resolved but yet we need to find ways to productively be together in the same community, family, work team or parish.

As I read today’s gospel from Matthew, the concept of conflict engagement comes to mind when I hear Jesus share these words with his disciples:  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad  and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

This teaching is very challenging to put into practice.  When we are hurt, shamed, challenged or scared, the last thing we want to do is pray for the person.  Perhaps in the moment that is impossible, but as I open my heart to Jesus, I realize through prayer I can heal and learn from those painful situations.  There may not be resolution to a conflict, but by praying for the grace to be generous, I can embrace conflict engagement and learn to live with those I perceive to be my enemies.  Jesus is not asking us to tolerate hateful words or actions.  We do not need to compromise our safety or the safety of those we love.  But perhaps we can feel compassion for those who we see as the enemy.

In the Spiritual Exercises St. Ignatius offers some practical tips for us to avoid falling into the trap of perpetuating conflict by assuming negative intent of the other person:  It should be presupposed that every good Christian ought to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor’s statement than to condemn it. Further, if he cannot interpret it favorably, one should ask how the other means it. If that meaning is wrong, one should correct the person with love; and if this is not enough, one should search out every appropriate means through which, by understanding the statement in a good way, it may be saved (SE 22).

There is so much opportunity to increase understanding and learn from one another.  The “love of the enemy” that Jesus speaks of might simply be pausing to try to understand.  Or perhaps remembering there is more going on in someone’s life than we realize.  While we may not agree, accept or understand someone’s words or actions, we can always hold them in prayer.  That is a good way to spend a lazy summer day.