Jesus surprises his followers by telling them that He does not bring peace, but division. In fact, He says that His message will even divide families against one another. I don't believe He was telling them this as a threat, but rather with disappointment.
He knows that what He is teaching is difficult, even painful, to follow. He knows that it changes the way that people view the world and that it would upset those in power. He even knows about the troubles that His own Church is going to bring.
Today's homily focused on how the world wants everyone to be nice and just get along, but that Jesus' message requires us to work with some painful truths. There are people who disagree, and sometimes blatantly attack, His teachings. Hoping by being nice to avoid conflict in the present can lead to larger problems in our future.
On a side note, hearing a Gospel where Jesus talks about His cleansing fire hits a little close to home on a day when our only land route off the peninsula is currently closed due to a resurgence of a massive forest fire.
He knows that what He is teaching is difficult, even painful, to follow. He knows that it changes the way that people view the world and that it would upset those in power. He even knows about the troubles that His own Church is going to bring.
Today's homily focused on how the world wants everyone to be nice and just get along, but that Jesus' message requires us to work with some painful truths. There are people who disagree, and sometimes blatantly attack, His teachings. Hoping by being nice to avoid conflict in the present can lead to larger problems in our future.
On a side note, hearing a Gospel where Jesus talks about His cleansing fire hits a little close to home on a day when our only land route off the peninsula is currently closed due to a resurgence of a massive forest fire.
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