How do we make sense of Jesus’ statement that He “… has not come to bring peace but the sword?”
The first clue is
that Jesus has never promoted violence. So, He must be speaking metaphorically when He speaks of bringing a sword. In fact, the sword was used as an image to convey the final conflict at the end of the age as well as suffering and conflict.
Secondly, we have heard Jesus teach in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for the kingdom of heaven shall be theirs."
And yet, we hear Jesus say that He has come to set a man “against his father, and daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
If we were being sarcastic, some would say we don’t need Jesus to see this happen! (We can do it all on our own.)
Family Divisions
But, with Jesus, there is always a purpose for good. And in this case, He is speaking of another reality that we also know, and that is how the teachings of Jesus can cause divisions among family members.
I know it’s a cliché, but many follow the saying that “We don’t talk politics or religion at family gatherings.” But Jesus does. In fact, He has come to wake everyone in our families up to the reality of good and evil, right and wrong, the natural law that fits within God's law, etc., and the way to finding real peace and joy in this life and the next.
A recent expression goes as follows, “well, that might be true, but I need to express my truth.” The only “truth” that matters is one that corresponds to reality. One plus one really equals two. It doesn’t matter if I say, “My truth says it’s three.”
Jesus brings the real truth about God, life, and ourselves. He knows there will be turmoil, but for some, it will be the only way that they will find God, healing, and a life that leads to heaven.
Carrying Our Cross
Jesus is preparing us, just as He prepared the Apostles for it, and the need to take up our cross and follow after Him. Most likely, part of your cross is trying to find a way to help a family member, a son or daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister, or grandchild follow Jesus.
In Jesus’ time, those sentenced to crucifixion carried their cross through the city streets, bearing the weight of the wood, all the while being mocked and spat upon. Again, Jesus is preparing His early disciples, and we, His modern-day disciples, for the hard parts of bringing Jesus to those we love and for our following all of His teachings.
The Road to Peace and Joy
Finally, Jesus frames the whole effort by saying, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” By going along to get along, by creating artificial walls between our faith and the rest of life outside of our parish churches, we will never find the peace and joy we desire.
It is true that Jesus’ teaching can cause division in our families. May we be the ones to help our loved ones come to see the truth of Jesus so that we may all find the peace in doing the good and glorifying God by our lives, including bearing the hardships of following Him wherever He leads us and to whomever He asks us to help.
May God bless you and your families, and may we always seek the Truth of Jesus to guide our days!
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