Monday 15th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Have come for the Sword Mt. 10:34

I thought that Jesus was a Peacemaker. 

I thought that He came to turn swords into plowshares and

Spears into pruning hooks. 

So what is all of this talk of swords and division and turning fathers against sons and mother against daughters?

At the time of Jesus, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons each had to make a choice, to remain in Judaism or to follow Jesus into the new religion of Christianity. 

These choices tore families apart as fathers and daughters would become Christians and some mothers and sons would remain Jewish. 

And some of this division even became violent as we know in the martyrdom of St. Stephen and other early Christians. 

Well nothing has changed in 2,000 years as families today are becoming divided between following Jesus or following the way of the world. 

While we should never become violent or take up the sword because of our choices or the choices that others make,   we should not be afraid to hold firm to our choice for Jesus no matter what the cost. 

God Bless