Art of Withdrawal

            “He withdrew from there” Mt 12.13

When confronted with unjust conflicting situations in life we can have a variety of responses – confront, be passive, withdraw, or allow the other to bulldoze over. When we pick one end of the stick we must pick the other also. Each response will have its consequent result. Confronting could result in damage to both parties with no clear winners. Silence and passivity would leave one apparently victorious and the other emotionally hurt. Allowing one to bulldoze over would leave one destroyed and the other superior and proud.  Withdrawal would result in leaving one confused and the other at peace.

Jesus chose to withdraw when confronted by the Pharisees who schemed to destroy him. Jesus had the truth on his side. He could very well argue and win his case, leaving the opposition angry, bitter and demolished. But Jesus’ mission was not to destroy and demolish but to build,  to reconcile, to win over even his enemies. Confrontation and argument in his view in the present situation would not achieve that. So he chose to withdraw leaving his opposition confused and giving them time to think over their position.

We may see withdrawal as the method of the weak. It all depends on what is our goal. If we want to destroy our opposition and you are strong enough confrontation may work. But if your mission is to win over the opposition and give them time to see reason, withdrawal may be a better option. Being gentle and non-violent  is not a weak response. We are living in the land of Mahatma Gandhi who triumphed over the British might not through sword and gun but through the strength of non-violence.  Sometimes opposition can be put to confusion and truth can shine best  when we offer the other cheek.

 If conflicts could be settled through confrontation our world should have been such a beautiful place by now.  So many wars have been fought and confrontations have taken place, have they made our world a better place? Violence will result in more violence. One who takes up the sword will perish by the sword. An eye for an eye will only make the world blind. The spiral of violence, aggression, and confrontation according to Jesus can only be stopped by non-violence an offering of the other cheek.

If it is the war that one wants to win, one must be prepared to lose a battle. Jesus came not to win every battle but to win the war. He had a mission to fulfill and he withdrew and continued to cure and reach out to the lowly and poor. His focus was on his mission and not on winning personal victories. Pride, power, and politics cannot be easily overcome least by confrontation and argument. Fossilized positions cannot be changed overnight. Those not open to truth must be left to their confusion and darkness and move on to those who are lost and cannot find a shepherd.

Many in the world want to crush the wounded reed and quench the wavering flame.  It is easier to crush than to offer support, which will demand your time, energy, and even your finances. But you can be sure that one day the reed you strengthened will bloom and make the world a better place. It takes just one small act of violence to put out a wavering flame. But it takes endless  patience and presence to give a sheltering hand and revive a wavering flame. But be sure that the flame you tended will give light and life to those around you in the days to come.

You have a choice to be the aggressor and conspire to destroy or be an angel of support to shield and revive. Jesus chose the latter.    

-        Fr T.V. George sdb