Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Jesus says something that causes us to squirm a bit in today’s Gospel. He says, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
Now, yes, it is true that Jesus prayed for the unity of his followers right before his arrest, crucifixion, and death, but he also realized that we would need to take sides. We must make a choice: are we with him, his teachings, his sacraments, his church, and the side of life and love or do we side with a culture that tolerates and even promotes sin and death?
I know that what we teach and speak as a Church doesn’t always find acceptance in the modern world, and sometimes not even among those who call themselves Christians. In fact, we may at times feel cowered into staying silent rather than speaking up for our beliefs at social gatherings, places of work, and elsewhere. Jeremiah, the prophet of our First Reading, did not change his teaching and would not be silenced despite being thrown into a cistern and left to die. Yet he was lifted from the mud of that cistern and brought to life again. So shall we. Have faith! It takes a bit of courage to speak up for what we believe as a Church, which is often directly opposed to the popular thinking as shown in modern opinion polls. Yet, our reward is great and truth ultimately prevails.
Yet, in all things we do, we must do out of charity and we must always gently (and sometimes with a bit more force) lead people to truth. Truth, with love, however because it is the truth that will set us free. And, yes, people may say that there is “my truth” and “your truth.” This is the tyranny of relativism that Pope Benedict XVI spoke of, which keeps us from being anchored to objective reality, but there is but one “Truth” and his name is Jesus. He has come to bring fire to this earth — and may our hearts be aflame with love for him above all else.
May God help us to be courageous witnesses to the teachings of our Church, the truth of Jesus our savior, the Gospel of life, and the loving forgiveness that Jesus offers to the world, ourselves included.
Have a blessed week everyone.