NOT PEACE BUT DIVISION

Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Mt 10:34-11:1

The Lord’s words to us today are quite disturbing. Sometimes, we do need to be disturbed. A disturbance coming from the Lord is always a welcome experience because we know that the Lord disturbs us always and only for something better.

We can be complacent. We need the Lord to shake us from our complacency. Complacency leads to mediocrity. The Lord hates mediocrity.

Complacency can give a false sense of peace. The peace of the complacent is the peace six-feet below. It is the peace of the dead.

Complacency can create a wrong sense of priority. Such kind of peace is the deceitful feeling of security derived from inordinate attachments. It is the peace of the lost.

Complacency can disguise itself as diplomacy. Diplomacy is not complacency. The peace of a complacent diplomat is cowardice.

Jesus came not to bring peace but division. He is the Lord of the living, not of the dead. He is the Good Shepherd who searches for even one lost sheep. He is not coward. If peace means complacency, then Jesus indeed came not to bring peace. If peace results to mediocrity, then Jesus creates division.

Jesus Himself is our peace. May He dwell in our hearts.