Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35 For I have come to set a man ‘against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.
It was the common Jewish expectation that the Messiah would bring peace. However, Jesus challenges that expectation by stating that his message often brings division. Jesus’ message demands a profound internal change where one’s life and values are reoriented and prioritized towards Christ and the Father. Such total devotion to Christ can affect the closest relationships and create divisions, even within the family (Heb. 4:12). Jesus was foretelling what would happen in the early Christian community where family members had to choose between the demands of their faith and opposition or betrayal by family members who did not believe in Jesus.
The closest family relationships are not as important as following Jesus even to death on the cross. Crucifixion was a brutal and humiliating form of execution reserved for the worst criminals and political rebels. Carrying one's cross meant bearing the instrument of one's own death, a public display of submission to the Roman authorities.
There is a personal cost to discipleship. Whoever is unwilling to accept suffering and sacrifice, in submission to God’s will for the sake of the Gospel, is not fully embracing the demands and challenges of being Jesus’ disciple. As disciples of Christ, we must be totally dedicated to him and love him and the Father above all else.
Anyone willing to lose his/her earthly life for Christ will find everlasting life with God. True life is found in surrendering one’s earthly desires and ambitions to follow Christ. Whoever accepts those sent by Christ and his Father accepts Christ, and whoever accepts Christ accepts the Father (Jn. 13:20). A welcome or kindness given to God’s messengers who come in Christ’s name, or any small act of kindness or support given to Jesus’ followers, will not go unrewarded.
Heavenly Father, grant us the courage to pick up our cross and follow Your Son with total dedication, embracing the sacrifices required to be his true disciples. With your grace, may we find strength in the face of division and hardship to free ourselves from earthly attachments, knowing that our commitment to Christ brings eternal reward. Let our acts of kindness reflect your unbounded love. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
Comments