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.” (Luke 12:49-53)
The earth is now on fire; it is already blazing with the coronavirus and fear for the future of our nation’s economic health and well-being. The United States is badly divided with households being torn apart with fathers against sons and sons against their fathers, and so on. Peace within families and within communities has been hard to maintain due to the upcoming election and Republican versus Democrat tribal animosity. There is anguish and social media fires fueled by misinformation, Russian election interference, conspiracy “theories,” and disinformation.
Ironically, Jesus said he came to establish division, not peace, according to Luke. Why? He knew his preaching about the Kingdom of God, the nature of forgiveness, the oneness of God, love of neighbor, and justice would rattle the status quo and incite opposition to his views about Roman oppression, priests’ hypocrisy, and the stealing of land from the poor making them sharecroppers and poorer.
Roman peace meant crucifixions, suppression, and forced compliance with the will of the Emperor, not God. Jesus did not accept that “peace,” so he preached division – separation from Caesar’s domination. Within families some agreed with him, while many did not, hence, father against son, mother against daughter, and so on.
November will come and go. Will destructive fires subside (not just in California)? Time will tell. We all hope for true peace and unity. We all hope for an effective and safe vaccine in 2021 if not before.
Deacon David Pierce
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