The Prince Of Peace Brings Conflict

2022년 8월 14일

The Prince Of Peace Brings Conflict

< Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time  >

              There is a line in today’s gospel reading that bears repeating, not just because Jesus said it but because it seems to be the exact opposite of what we’ve come to expect of Jesus. In fact we might even question whether we heard the words correctly. Jesus says, “Do not think I have come to establish peace on the earth. I have come not for peace, but for division.” He then goes on to describe how he will be the reason parents and children, brother and sister, even husband and wife will be divided because of him. At first this seems shocking until you realize families have divided and are still divided for many reasons other than Jesus. Families argue about lots of thing: money, bad habits, excess drinking, disagreements over politics. Yet all of these are insignificant compared to arguing about Jesus.

I experienced this in my own family. My parents were very much against my becoming a priest. Not because I am an only son (luckily there are many cousins with sons who carry on the Veneroso name.) No, they thought I would starve to death if I became a priest. One day when my parents had gone out shopping I took down all the statues and holy pictures of Jesus, Mary and the saints. Every crucifix, all the rosaries I gathered together and put them down in the cellar. When my parents returned, they were stunned. My mother asked, “what happened? Why did you take away all the statues?“ I replied, “If it is such an embarrassment for your son to become a priest, why bother with all these knickknacks?” It was only then that they realized I was very serious, not only about being a priest but about being Catholic. Of course, five years later when I was preparing for ordination to the priesthood, to hear them talk it had been their idea all along. Suddenly they proudly referred to me as “Our son, the priest.” Of course, the Korean martyrs faced much harsher opposition to their becoming Catholic. The truth is, there are many reasons families fight. What are we willing to risk losing for the sake of following Christ?

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