THE WORD
Rom 6: 19–23 / Lk 12: 49–53
Jesus said to his disciples, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Lying in bed, dying, a former Philippine Ambassador to a European country, only 60 years old, sought my thoughts: “Why these sufferings, what of my children?” What could I say? God is in no way punishing her. God is a God of love and mercy.
Prophets of the Old Testament suffered for their mission. The Prophet Himself, Jesus, experienced the same sort. His mission entails the mission of separating good from evil, believer from non-believer. He begs the Father to spare Him from drinking the cup of suffering. How does the Prince of Peace bring His peace to the world, to a family? His words appear a bit surprising, not to say threatening. He preaches division instead of unity. Rejected, condemned by his own contemporaries and then abandoned, Jesus was left hanging on the cross to give us life and peace. He is, as if, buried and immersed in baptism. When Christ calls, He causes split in the family. He brings the holy fire of discord and division. Sacrifices, divisions and contradictions one has to go through; pacification and compromise are no peace. The martyrs of the early church won peace by defying Roman persecutions. “The blood of Christians,” says Tertullian, “is seed.” Faith, tested, grows firmer and stronger.
A sick man goes through the knife – then savours the peace after the operation. A mother goes through the pangs of birthing – then breathes the peace of joy. A penitent approaches the confessional and shares his sins with the priest – then leaves in peaceful relief. How do you feel after a painful reconciliation with an aggrieved father, or after a talk with a counsellor? In the end it is a question of choice between the two kingdoms, that of Christ and that of the world. In theological parlance, it comes into a fundamental option for Christ, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
- Antolin Uy, SVD (DWST, Tagaytay City)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
