Matthew 10:34-42

[Jesus said:] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷Whoever 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. ³⁸And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever 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 him who sent me. ⁴¹The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Jesus said, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  Because sin is at work in the bodies of all people, the good we want to do is not what we do (cf. Romans 7).  The Bible reminds us that there has always been conflict in the family: The stories of Cain and Able (Genesis 4), Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37), are a couple of examples.  Even Adam turned on Eve after they both took a bite out of death.  This very sword has, at one time or another, cut everyone here deeply.  Jesus also experienced this sword.  St. Mark tells how Jesus’ own family attempted to stop His ministry, they say, “He is out of His mind!” (cf. Mark 3).  Even worse, His heavenly Father turned His face as He hung on the cross, because Christ Jesus was your sin and mine.  

However, the Bible teaches us Jesus did come to bring peace.  Years before Jesus “became flesh and dwelt among us” (cf. John. 1:14), the prophet Isaiah declared He would be called the “Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).  At His birth, St. Luke writes that the Lord’s angels appeared saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is well pleased” (Luke. 2:8f).  In John 14:27 Jesus declares, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.” For all who will repent of their sins and believe, Jesus gives you His peace with God now and forever.  The peace that surpasses all human understanding (cf. Philippians 4:7).  Since Jesus brought His peace with God from heaven to earth, Satan rages!  Peace is the last thing the devil wants for you or anyone else.  Ole Beelzebul is like a bully in the street that is constantly stirring up trouble everywhere he can, especially within the family.  

When that sword divides, pray to Jesus the true Peacemaker.  Cry to the Lord with the psalmist “Look on my affliction and deliver me . . . plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!  . . . Great is Your mercy, O Lord; . . . Give me life according to Your steadfast love!” (cf. Psalm 119:153-159).  Plead to the Lord for those who think they have found their life but are in fact losing it.  Drop their name at Jesus’ feet.  Call upon the very Son of God who died for them, to chase after them, restore them, and save them.  Just look for yourself: in the gospels; Jesus never once denied a parents’ plea to have mercy for a child or a friend.  Jesus places such value on His disciples that what happens to His followers happens to Him.  For all who have been claimed and named by God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism, for all who trust in Jesus alone for your salvation, who take up their cross and follow Him: there may be swords, division, heartbreak, and pain, but Jesus is with you, for you, and will never forsake you.  Life may be tough, but Jesus came to free you from the dominion of the devil. to cleanse you from your sin, to rescue you from death, and to restore you to the peace that surpasses all understanding with the Heavenly Father.  Thanks be to God, in Jesus’ name: Amen.

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