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Has your faith ever led to conflict or tension with people you’re close to? Mine has… It doesn’t feel good, and I can’t say I’ve gotten used it over the years. My mind gets stuck in defensive mode, rehearsing arguments about why I’m right. None of that is good. Where is the joy of faith? Where is the peace that Jesus promises? Where is “abundant life” if following him means losing friends and family? The Gospel this Sunday goes there. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, says he “didn’t come to bring peace but division” (Luke 12:51). The second reading from Hebrews 11 is even worse! People of faith “suffered mocking, flogging, chains and imprisonment, were stoned to death, sawn in two, killed by the sword, destitute, persecuted, tormented… of whom the world was not worthy” (11:36-38).

         Jesus and Hebrews are simply describing what will happen when we follow him. Do you want to follow him if all of that stuff will happen? It’s too easy to engage in rationalizations with our faith to not stick our necks out.  Just give me the joy and peace!

         There is so much division in the world, especially our politics. “All or nothing” beliefs about what’s right for our country feeds it and justifies the use of power to get it. Tell someone that the baby Jesus and Joseph and Mary were asylum seekers and see what reaction you get. Tell someone that God is not fair when it comes to forgiveness or bestowing grace… or that Jesus wanted nothing to do with power or greatness (actually the opposite)… or that his kingdom is not of this world…  

         Unfortunately, lost in all that is the new life, the life of resurrection, salvation and wholeness that comes with a living faith that transcends all of the divisions and problems of this world. Jesus’ Way of living flows out of a deeper way of being. Letting go of the ways of the world will lead to backlash from the world. “For the sake of the joy set before him, he endured the cross… and is seated at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  

Peace,

Pr. Christian