What a paradox today’s gospel reading for Mass is:
“Jesus said to his disciples, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three …” Lk 12:49-53
This gospel reading seems to contradict everything that Jesus taught us. Jesus said to love your enemies, forgive those who have wronged you, turn the other cheek, etc. About a week ago, the gospel reading was about Jesus sending the 72 disciples out in pairs and he told them that when they entered a household to tell the residents, “Peace to this household. If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.” And in John 13:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.” So, today’s gospel seems to totally contradict Jesus’s former teachings, at least on the surface of things.
However, the gospel also seems to profoundly apply to the current political situation in many countries in the world right now, but especially in the US as we approach the coming elections. Just saying the word, “politics” or “election” provokes very strong, emotional responses from family members, friends, neighbors and complete strangers in our communities. It feels almost like civil war could break out at anytime over our political differences. There has been a great deal of violence in our streets, people have been hurt, lives have been threatened and millions of dollars in property has been destroyed over our political views and opinions. Today, someone even mailed pipe bombs to our former president and high ranking politicians. Trying to cope with all of this, in light of the Gospel, is indeed very challenging to Catholics right now.
I don’t have the answer to this situation. Half of Americans feel one way, and the other half the opposite way, just like the gospel today illustrates. Who’s in the right? Who’s in the wrong? I guess that depends on what is in your heart and only Jesus knows the motivations of our hearts. Our hearts are on fire, that’s for sure, but where does the fire originate? Both sides feel they are working for the common “good”.
A thought might be to remember the lives of the saints. A person is made a saint because of how they interpreted the gospel and lived it out in their life. And each saint interpreted the scriptures in a different way. Every saint is unique, like a precious one-of-a-kind gemstone, due to how they interpreted the gospel and lived it out in their lives. There is no cookie cutter path to sainthood. It all depends on the motivations of the heart.
A priest once told me that another definition of sin, is selfishness. He said that if you are ever in doubt as to whether an action is a sin or not, try to determine if the action is selfish.
The “Good News” for all of us reading this reflection today though, is that Jesus said the very state of conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. It can actually be a very visible sign of doing His will. The example of our Catholic martyrs can certainly attest to that. To stand up for the gospel inevitably creates conflict, but “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Daily Mass Readings: Eph 3:13-21; Ps 33:1-2,4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Lk 12:49-53
NOTE TO OUR READERS: Mary Ortwien usually writes the Thursday reflection for A Catholic Moment, but she recently experienced a house fire. Mary plans to return to writing for A Catholic Moment in November. Thank you for keeping Mary and her family in your prayers.
