One of the titles of Jesus is Prince of Peace. Yet in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus says just the opposite. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” He then goes on to tell how He will become a source of division, even within families and households.
Have you ever experienced this? I can tell you that I have. Jesus has been a source of division even in my own marriage. Many years ago, my wife “got saved.” She gave her life to Christ. And I thought that she lost her mind. Here I was Mr. Pagan-guy, and now I was married to a holy roller. Now, that didn’t last too long. Within a few months, my wife prayed and loved me into a relationship with Christ. But for that short time, Jesus was definitely a cause of division in my house. That isn’t the only example by a long shot.
Perhaps Jesus is a source of division in your family. Your spouse, your kids, your parents, your siblings; maybe they just don’t understand this new (or not so new) relationship with Jesus. This can sometimes cause people to fall away. They can’t take the heat, so they go back to their old ways. Don’t let that happen! Stand strong, grow in your relationship with Christ. Who knows…maybe like Mrs. Lloyd for me, you can bring them to Jesus. Neither one of you will ever be the same.
Father, help us to hold on strongly to our faith, especially when Jesus is a cause of division in our families. Give us the grace to introduce our loved ones to Him. Amen.
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AMEN Gus! My wife has been doing a lot of crying lately. Partly because she just buried an older sister last Friday (after waiting 7 months) and lost a younger one only a couple of weeks ago. But a lot of her tears are being shed for those who asked her to NOT send any emails, cards, or text messages with the word “God” or “prayer” in them!
Division – and sadness!