Holy intransigence

But Christ did not only give us an example of holy tolerance. He also gave us a very clear example of holy intransigence, when it comes to the things of God. Jesus does not give way in the face of error (remember his terrible rebukes to the Pharisees!) nor does he tolerate the Creator’s being offended with impunity in his presence. Consider Christ’s holy indignation when faced with the abuse of the merchants in the Temple: He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers” (Luke 19:45-46).

For love of God and not for personal interests

So too, we cannot tolerate that God be offended in our presence, if we can prevent it. If necessary, we too will employ a holy coercion – exercised with all possible gentleness, and always respecting the legitimate freedom of consciences. In other words, we will so act that it is clear that we are not motivated by any personal interests, but only by God’s glory – zelus domus tuae comedit me (John 2:17), zeal for your house will consume me – and by love for men and women, whom we want to rescue from error, so as to prevent them from foolishly condemning their souls.