St Cyril of Jerusalem: Accused of Being Too Much Like the Other Side

 Today we read about St Cyril of Jerusalem in the book In Caelo et in Terra. He faced something that many of us today also deal with regularly.

He was born in the 4th century and became Bishop of Jerusalem. He was very conciliatory and peacemaking by nature, and so he suffered greatly from the fact that there were many warring factions in the church during his time. He was often accused of being too much like one side or the other of the argument, depending on who was arguing with him. Both sides accused him of agreeing too much with the other side. 

That's what we face today, too. The "progressives" and the "conservatives" around the world are at war. And those of us who see good in both sides (being prolife and seeing the traditional family being a great good that is under attack, but also seeing much need in helping immigrants and working towards greater social justice) are often attacked by both sides for not toeing their party line. When you're a peacemaker, you're seldom at peace.

You can read more about this Bishop who is now a saint and doctor of the church here.

God, thanks for the peacemaking abilities and example of this saint. St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us.