Today, I was deeply saddened to read a social media post by someone I considered to be a friend. Without getting into the profane ordure of the subject matter, the gist of the post was, “If you disagree with me about this (non-religious) subject and do so on religious grounds, I hate you, and I never want to hear from you again.” Then this individual went on to justify his hatred in the name of self-righteousness and, ironically, love.

We should be able to disagree, even on things we consider to be REALLY IMPORTANT, without hate. “Love” can never justify hate. Disagreement can never justify hate.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan disagreed profoundly with the Jew (and the Jew with the Samaritan), but Samaritan still loved the Jew, and demonstrated his love by his actions. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father disagreed profoundly with the actions of his son, but the father still loved his son and forgave him.

Today is the second day of Lent, and while, as a Latter-day Saint, I do not celebrate the Lenten season, I do have deep respect for my devout Catholic friends as well my devout friends of other Christian faith traditions who do. I wish them all a blessed Lenten season. I don’t have to agree with their theology and practice to recognize that it is a beautiful expression of faith and a desire to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His forty-day fast to prepare for His mortal ministry and eventual atoning sacrifice, death, and resurrection.

Yesterday, on Ash Wednesday, I had a lovely discussion about Lent with a devout and learned Catholic friend, who happens to be one of the narrators for my audiobooks. We exchanged ideas about how we celebrate the life and mission of our Savior. Our traditions may be different, but we share a mutual love for the Son of God. We are both profoundly grateful for His mercy and His grace that can redeem us from hell. We’ve had many such discussions, and they have been rewarding.

I can assure you that my friend and I both hold our beliefs and our faith and our traditions very dearly. In my writing, when I am portraying Catholic characters, I want to do so accurately and respectfully. And my friend has graciously helped me with my research. I’m grateful for her friendship.

And guess what? We do NOT agree on everything. In fact, we have profound differences in our beliefs and practices. But we also share much in common. We don’t let the differences, even the fundamental and profound differences, get in the way of respect and friendship and Christ-like love.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

May we, whatever our faith tradition, as sincere followers of Jesus, be more like the Samaritan and the father of the prodigal. (For are we not ALL of us prodigals who have strayed and desired to be reconciled to our Father?) I pray that I may be, as the apostle Paul said, “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (I Timothy 4:12)