Division

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? 

No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Division.  Our country is divided although not based on faith and religion; however, that division can be found in some communities and even within families.  Moreover, divide and conquer is the strategy used by demagogues and those seeking power and control.

Jesus knew that those choosing to follow him would not be well received within families, and fathers would be divided from sons, etc.  That’s not peace.

Jesus “set the earth on fire” because his followers would not follow Caesar and his legions.  He knew he had no other choice and, sooner rather than later, had to address inequities, oppression, and poverty.    He hopes we have no choice. 

How great was his anguish?  Supreme!  Our baptism obliges us to make similar correct choices; otherwise, our earth truly will be on fire with hate, ignorance, bigotry, racism and all the rest of those traits Satan finds so appealing. 

Deacon David Pierce