The Path of Peace

Gospel: Luke 10: 13-16

In 66 C.E. the people of Israel revolted against the Roman Empire.  Initially they had some success, but inevitably Rome invaded with full might and laid waste to the entire region, putting Israel into harsh slavery and diaspora.  The Christian community did not take part in the revolt; they fled to Petra in Jordan and to other places. It is within this context and setting that today's Gospel must be read, for herein we are provided with two pathways through this world.

Throughout its history Israel saw the path to freedom as being one of military conquest and political establishment. This pathway affected the Messianic expectation and events of the first century C.E. But Jesus provides a very different path to freedom, one that is internal, one that frees us from our attachments, one that is not dependent and that subjects us to political ideologies and military bravado.

Jesus continually admonishes his disciples for their predisposition toward violence.  We are told to put away our swords and to embrace the cross instead. Authentic freedom is found in the depths of our hearts in a life of loving union with God extended outward to others through deeds of mercy and kindness.