Division is not of God

God is not the author of confusion. He is not the creator of chaos. Where there is division and turmoil, there is Satan. The division and separation of the Church is not healthy, not blessed by God, and not of the Lord. We are not people who should identify as TLM Catholics or Novus Ordo Catholics. We are Catholics. We are children of God. That is our identity.

“I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or we you baptized in the name of Paul?” (I Corinthians 1:10-13)

The divisions within the Church did not begin with the Second Vatican Council. The chaos did not even begin with the Reformation. It started with the early Church and Paul had to address the divisive ideology and mindset of which leaders that Christians were following and how each Christian identified herself/himself. They were not followers of Paul. They were not followers of Peter. They were followers of Christ. All of them.

We, too, are in the same situation regarding how Catholics identify right now. We are not followers of Bishop Robert Barron. We are not followers of Taylor Marshall. We are not followers of Father Mike Schmitz. We are not followers of Pope Francis. We are followers of the only one who died for our sins. We are followers of Christ.

We are in a post Second Vatican Council where many disagree and are angry with the changes in the Mass, and other issues, from that council. Many Catholics are accepting of the changes and are just seeking reverence and respect in the Novus Ordo, if it is the Mass that many are attending. We have the “TLM” vs “Novus Ordo” Catholics when we should only have “Catholics”. Our identity should only be in Christ and not in siding with one position over the other when that division causes others to turn against the Church or feel like he or she is less “Catholic” for attending one Mass over the other. Division is of the devil.

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

It is our mission from Christ to share the love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and mercy of Jesus to everyone. It is difficult for us to bring others to Jesus when we are driving others away from the Church. We cannot bring the love and forgiveness of Christ to others outside Christianity when we, ourselves, are fighting and showing anything but love to those for which we disagree. Jesus gave the apostles their command before his ascension. It was His last instruction to them on earth and it, in turn, is His last instruction to us.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

He did not tell them to go argue. He told them to preach, teach, and baptize. He told them to live the Gospel. If we are to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we are to not seek division within His Church but should seek unity under the core message. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. We are all sinners and because we are all sinners then Jesus came, God incarnate, died on Calvary for our sins, and was resurrected. It does not matter if one supports or prefers the TLM over the Novus Ordo or supports the Novus Ordo if we are not sharing the message of salvation with others. Without the Gospel, the type of Mass does not matter. Without sharing Christ with those who do not know Him, TLM or Novus Ordo is pointless. Christ is the head of the Church. Let Jesus handle the TLM vs Novus Ordo issue and you get to sharing the truth of Jesus and His sacrifice for sins. Jesus will work out all the rest.