Division, Condition, Reward

Jesus: A Cause of Division

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35 For I have come to set
a man ‘against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s enemies will be those of his household.’
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross[a] and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 [b]Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me,[c] and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 [d]Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
1 When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples,[e] he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.-Matthew10:34-11:1

Jesus is not saying we should wage war against our loved ones because it will be contrary to the Law (Honor your father and mother) and He comes to fulfill the Law. Rather, at a certain point in our life, we should learn that the ultimate goal is always God, that the ultimate Love is God. Sometimes our family is against us if we make or do things for God i.e. serving the Church. We face tough opposition from our family should we decide to make a sacrifice for God i.e. entering the priesthood or religious life. Today, Jesus is reminding us of the conditions to be His disciple. It is always about God first and foremost.

Image courtesy: artist

Divided World

Together we stand, divided we fall.

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”-Luke12:49-53

As I read and reflected the Gospel reading, I am still wondering why Jesus said, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." But isn't it true that Jesus is the Prince of Peace? We greet one another with glad tidings during Christmas season, and this greeting is sourced from the joy the world felt during Jesus' birth. Division, and not peace, is simply something so baffling.

But there is truth to it. I know of a former police officer who never liked going to church. Always he would say, "I have no sin! So I am not obligated to attend the Mass." or "Others are more sinful that I am. If they don't go to church, neither do I." Sometimes he would disappear until the day is over just to escape the Mass. At times, he would just be quiet and block everybody from his senses. His attitude caused division to his family until finally he changed. John the Baptist caused such a division that displeased some powerful people that led to his death. In the movie "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," Francis of Assisi separated himself from his family when chose a poor life. Claire of Assisi, too, caused a division in her family when she chose to be a nun rather than a bride to a noble lord which caused much displeasure to her father.

To be with Christ sometimes cause division. Christ teaches poverty, simplicity, humility and other values and virtues. But many are not followers of these virtues and values. Some people shun poverty because they prefer a world of materialism and worldly wealth. They would say, "Why deprive myself since I have money to make me happy?" Some people shun simplicity. They would say, "I need expensive and classy bags, shoes, dresses, accessories... I have to be fashionable." Some people shun humility. They would say, "To be powerful is to be accepted." We need not be a divided world if we only open ourselves to Jesus. His way is always the right way. His way always brings contentment and bliss. His way is always love and peace. Let the fire of Jesus' love heal and bring us home to the Father!

Image courtesy: crestock.com; unknown artist; D.Lambert