Word to the Wise
Thursday, October 24, 2019 - Thursday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 6:19-23 and Luke 12:49-53]"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." [Luke]
Each of the four gospels was put into writing at a particular time in the life of the communities to which they were originally addressed. The evangelists had oral traditions, and, in some cases, eye-witness testimony to assist in telling the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. However, the "particular time" also influenced the story, so that what was happening at the time of the writing influenced what the author would emphasize from Jesus' life to make it more relevant to the audience.
In the case of the Gospel According to Luke, the images of family discord caused by faith in Jesus were real to the lives of a persecuted and harassed community of disciples. Many of them would have experienced what happened in their families when one or more members accepted Christian faith. The gospel reminds them that Jesus' had warned that belief in him could cause persecution. Perseverance in the faith would not be easy and could be fatal for some.
This is not just ancient history. I am sure that I am not alone in knowing persons whose religious faith cost them the love and affection of family and friends. We have martyrs to the faith in our own day, such as Archbishop Oscar Romero and Fr. Stanley Rother. Discipleship is not just a warm fuzzy religious sentiment to be abandoned when challenged, even when leaders and pastors fail in their duties.
All of the New Testament spoke to various contemporary audiences, but the Holy Spirit has carried forward the message to us through the centuries. We need the same encouragement in our time intended by Luke in his time. AMEN