“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.”
“I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…[so that] one’s enemies will be the members of one’s household.” ~ Matthew 10:34—11:1
These proclamations from our Lord can strike us particularly harshly here at Holy Cross Family Ministries, because Venerable Patrick Peyton dedicated his life to family unity through prayer and proclaimed that prayer brings peace. What do we make of this?
First, we must understand that when Jesus speaks of peace in this passage, He means freedom from conflict, particularly oppression from one’s enemies. There was, in fact, an expectation that the Messiah would usher in an era where nations no longer engaged in conflict, and God’s people, especially, no longer suffered oppression. Jesus, instead, makes no such promises, at least not for His first coming upon the earth.
Ridicule and Ostracization
Indeed, just as we heard in today’s first reading about Egypt’s murderous enslavement of Israel, Jesus prophesied that God’s people, His followers, would continue to endure persecution from a world opposed to God. Tragically, sometimes this persecution takes place even within families. I have friends who have suffered ridicule and even ostracization from siblings or parents because of their Christian convictions. Many of you probably know similar stories in the lives of your friends. Some of you may have endured this kind of ordeal yourself.
When Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., now Venerable Patrick Peyton, founded Holy Cross Family Ministries, he knew the difficulties, trials, and even oppression that families faced in a world increasingly moving away from God. He certainly knew families that allowed themselves to be torn apart by strife.
Blissful Life Not Promised
Father Peyton never promised that being faithful to our Blessed Mother and her Son would guarantee a blissful life insulated from these kinds of external or internal trials. Instead, Father Peyton understood that true prayer means seeking to align oneself with God’s Will and opening oneself to the Holy Spirit. And if families began really to pray together, then together they would seek God’s will for their family; together they would open their family up to the Holy Spirit; and together they would find the strength to endure life’s trials with courage and hope. This is what it means truly to stay together. Not simply to keep living under the same roof, but to stand fast in unity and mutual support when the storms come.
Despite Jesus’ stern warnings, His sermon today ends with quite a promise: those who support His disciples in their trials with even the smallest gesture—merely a cup of cold water—will themselves receive the reward of the righteous. What greater rewards await us if, together in prayer, we support one another as a family of disciples?
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday–Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
