Gospel: Luke 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and
how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be
baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 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; a father will be divided against his son and a son
against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her
mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law.”
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Reflection:
The story is told about two childhood best friends who grew up and went
to the same university in college. Best friend number one noticed that
something was not right in the behavior of his best friend. So, he asked his
best friend if something was wrong best friend number two replied that nothing
to worry because everything was fine.
After a few days best friend number two was caught by the school
authorities using illegal drugs. Best
friend number one who was a devout follower of Jesus told his best friend to
straighten his life otherwise he would cut his ties with him.
All along we have this impression of Jesus as a unifying factor, as a man
of peace. But what the gospel presents to us is contrary to these images of
Jesus. Because what we have in the ospel is a divisive Jesus that creates
conflict amongst family members.
Indeed, Jesus creates conflict amongst family members even friends.
That is who Jesus is, He is not afraid to create a wedge amongst us so that we
would straighten our crooked ways. For example, if some members of your family
don’t want to go to Sunday Mass, what would you do? Would you simply keep quiet
and just let it be? Of course not!
You have to speak and gently remind those members of your family who
don’t want to worship God at Mass. Another example, let us say that a member of
your family had a pregnancy out of wedlock and a member of your family is
suggesting an abortion. Will you simply keep silent and agree about that evil
suggestion? Of course not, you have to speak out against the offer of abortion.
A true follower of the Lord is someone who is not afraid to say what is
in his mind even if it is unpopular. Even if it creates division and separation
among members of family and friends. As followers of Jesus it is always our
responsibility to gently correct those whom we feel are going astray or walking
into the darkness with the devil.
If they would listen to us well and good, if they won’t and it results to
division or even conflict. That’s fine at
least we have done something to redirect their life to the right way of life.–
Marino J. Dasmarinas
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