Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53
This passage seems almost inexplicable and incongruent to us. All the passages wherein Jesus speaks of drawing all things to himself, making all things new, and proclaiming peacemakers blessed - and now we have this passage about conflict, division, and separation. What meaning can we possibly derive from today's Gospel portion?
Consider the reaction to the peacemaker: when she announces that all are welcome she is met with words of derision. When she reaches out to care for the marginalized and foreigner, she is accosted by the mob who detests such people. When she dares to suggest some flaw in a nation with so many mass shootings, suggest that school shootings are intolerable, she will inevitably be met by the never-ending defense of the gun.
This was the same reaction Jesus had when he ate with those deemed unworthy, when his disciples tried to prevent him for caring for the marginalized ones, when he told us to put away our sword and rebuked us for wishing doom upon a village. The peacemaker brings the division because she calls to abandon our false gods and tools of violence, and that is a message we cannot bear. We will prefer Babel to Eden, war over peace, division over unity. And we will blame the peacemaker for our choices and the consequences that come with them.
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