Reflections from the August 14 Gospel
Luke 12:49-53
What a sad image Jesus paints in today’s Gospel. Causing family strife—fathers against sons and mothers against daughters—is not the effect we like to imagine Jesus having on people. But as he says today, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” The fact is, and always has been, that not everyone chooses to follow Christ. This causes conflict.
However, this needs to be understood in the light of Jesus’ desire to bring peace. He often used the greeting, “Peace be with you,” and clearly promised peace to his disciples. Today’s Gospel should not be taken to mean that Jesus desires division. Rather, he is acknowledging the fact that division will inevitably result as people declare their differing allegiances. But thankfully, when we align ourselves with Christ, we are also uniting ourselves to the One who can restore peace even in the midst of conflict. So when we see turmoil arise, let’s call upon the power of the true Prince of Peace.
Questions of the Week
Luke 12:49-53:
How do you deal with non-believers
in your family?
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10:
How are prophetic voices silenced today?
Hebrews 12:1-4:
What insights about Jesus do you gain from the title, “The leader and perfecter of faith”?