There are many ways of resolving conflicts in our present world. One of the preferred methods of conflict resolution is the use of force. We live in a world in which “might” is often mistaken for “right”.

Because of this nations go to war so as to bring about peace. Because might is right, countries are subdued, but conquerors, when there are conquerors, leave behind in the conquered a hardly disguised hatred, the guarantee of future and probably more bloody conflicts.

There are really no winners with this method of conflict resolution. Violence neither respects the dignity of the vanquished nor that of the conqueror. When violence is used to resolve disagreements, be these between individuals or within the family or parish community or nation, we are all losers.

While we live in this atmosphere of violence we are reminded of the Church's vocation to work for reconciliation throughout the world and to break down the walls dividing persons.

In the gospel given to us for our meditation this weekend, we see Jesus giving instructions to his disciples about the ways in which the community is to deal with conflict.

This is important for us because we have all experienced conflict within our Christian and parish communities and unfortunately we are often influenced by the ways of the world as we go about trying to bring peace to our communities. Power is used autocratically, persons are not given a hearing, there is little discussion and little seeking of consensus.

Jesus gives a model to his disciples for future situations of conflict within the community. It is essentially a model in which all have a part to play. Persons are asked to deal with conflictual situations themselves.

If that does not work, then mediation is to be tried; if mediation does not work, then the community is to be brought in, and if even this does not work, then the offending person is to be put out of the community, not so that they be lost but because being out of the community, they would not have the responsibilities that Christian living involves.

What is important is the respect for the person that the process demands. “ If your brother does something wrong, go and discuss it with him alone. ” In other words, do not broadcast it, do not try to win sympathisers.

Deal with your brother as an equal. If this does not work involve some members of the community as mediators, not as judges, and only when this does not work is the community to be involved.

A system of conflict resolution is important for the Christian community because of the words of Jesus, “ By this shall all people know that you are my disciples, by the love which you have for one another .” Conflict resolution preserves the love of the community.

The early Christian community found ways to resolve their conflicts. We remember the conflicts between the Jewish members and the Greeks over the distribution of food to the widows.

When the conflicts were solved there were only winners, there were no losers. Therein lies the secret of successful conflict resolution, there are only winners, no one is a loser.

The building of any true community, and therefore of any Christian community, presupposes the presence of structures for conflict resolution. These structures are necessary to protect and develop the unity which is one of the characteristics of communities of disciples of Jesus.

Lord, as we celebrate our Eucharist today, we thank you for the people in our world who truly work to develop structures for the resolution of conflicts and to bring peace to our world.

We remember the groups who work to bring peace between Palestinians and Israelis and between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland , and between Christians and Muslims throughout the world. We pray for them that they may not fall prey to disillusionment and that their example might be followed by others.

Lord, we remember, however, that the Gospel is the mirror in which we look at ourselves. It challenges us as individuals and as a Church as to whether we have structures to preserve the unity of our communities and to resolve the conflicts which arise in our families, and our parishes so that we can proclaim the truth of the message of Jesus.

Lord, in the context of Trinidad and Tobago, we ask ourselves as Church to what extent we see it as our responsibility to be fomenters of unity between the ethnic groups in our country?

As we celebrate our Eucharist today in this period of the anniversary of independence, we pray that we may allow the Eucharist to be what it is meant to be, sign and cause of unity in our land.

Gospel Meditations for September are by Fr Joseph Harris, a former parish priest and rector of the Regional Seminary, Fr Harris now works on the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal.