Romans 6:19-23; Psalm 1:1-4,6;Luke 12:49-53
http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/
“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:51)
Wait a minute. Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace? Didn’t he come to bring reconciliation and not division? Then why is he telling his disciples something that sounds altogether different?
Jesus wasn’t saying that he was on a mission of division and disintegration. Rather, he was describing a natural consequence of his coming. He knew that not everyone would accept the good news and that this rejection could cause conflicts. So he wanted to warn his disciples ahead of time, so that they would not become disillusioned or frustrated when the inevitable divisions did occur.
Jesus also wanted to make it clear that the coming of the Messiah did not mean instant and universal peace. A new age has dawned, to be sure, but it isn’t the final age of harmony and tranquility that we all long for. No, we live in the age of the church, an era marked by the ongoing struggle between light and darkness that we all know so well.
It’s important for us to know that divisions over issues of faith and morality will happen on their own. God isn’t asking us to become confrontational zealots. He doesn’t want us preaching a gospel of harsh condemnation to those who disagree with us. Rather, he wants us to try our best to respond to his call in our lives. And if our words or our witness causes conflicts, he wants us to learn how to lighten up, refine our approach, and look for another opportunity to share the gospel in a less argumentative way. In bad times as well as good, we need to be openhearted to everyone we meet, sowing seeds of the love that God has poured into our hearts.
Remember: Not all divisions have to be permanent. St. Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is a matter of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). If we can keep this promise in the forefront of our minds, we just might be able to help bridge whatever divisions occur and help someone else invite the Lord into his or her life.
“Father, fill me with your joy and peace today. Help me to be an agent of unity and reconciliation in a world of isolation and division.” ~WAU
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