No Middle Ground

I actually like it when this happens, and it happened again just recently. On the same day I had two different and unrelated individuals say something to me that was the exact opposite of each other. In itself, this is not uncommon ("I like chocolate" and "I hate chocolate"), but this time it was much more unique.

The first person said to me, "Father, I like your homilies because they are always specific and give me direction for my life" (thank you again for the encouragement!). Then, just a few hours later, I had someone write to me and say, "Father, I do not like your homilies, they are too specific and do not give us enough options to live our lives differently than you are saying". (Just for clarity, priests are supposed to teach what the Church says, not give numerous options that the Church rejects!)

They were both referring to the exact same homily (which makes it even more special). I try very hard not just to listen to the person who complimented me, but also ask if there is something that I can learn from my critic (always hard, but a very good habit). What is revealing is that I know both of those people enough to know they are coming from two very different situations, and different backgrounds. In one sense, both of those people might have been right to a degree (but from different perspectives).

Be aware, whatever your perspective is on something (whether it is my homilies, or anything else!) it will have much to do with your personal experiences. The point of all this is not just to show that it is impossible to please everyone in the church (and it truly is impossible!), but rather to say that we each need to learn the faith better so that we are not put off by that which is good and calling it bad. Also, in order for this to come together rightly, we each need a well formed conscience. The only way that happens is to spend time growing in holiness and knowledge of what is good and moral (and blocking out the world's lies about morality!).

Be humble in your perspectives, and realize that you might be correct, and you might not be. We each have biases and most of us are unaware of them. The worst thing you can do is presume that your biases are always correct and everyone else's are always wrong (I meet people like that, sadly, often). "Trust not in your own understanding, but put all your trust in the Lord and His word."