20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6.8-10: You have borne me to be a man of dissension for all the land.

II Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4: We shall keep running in the race we have started.

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53: I am not here to bring peace, but rather division.

The Three Gross Misconceptions of Man, 12:49-59

Today’s gospel reading sounds as a shocking passage for all of us today. The words sound strange on Jesus’ lips; we find it difficult to take them literally. We need to take his words seriously and try to understand the real meaning. Jesus came to bring peace and union among people. That is what we find in the Scriptures “the Messiah as a man of peace”: “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6). “He will be our peace” (Mt 5:5). The shepherds’ singing: “Peace on earth to men whom God loves” (Mt 2:14). In the Beatitudes “Blessed are the peace-makers; they shall be called God’s children”(Mt 5:9). Jesus wanted his disciples to be like him and to be the messengers of peace “In whatever house you enter, let your first words be: ‘Peace to this house” (10:5). Jesus’ gift to his disciples during his passion, was peace: “Peace I bring to you; my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you”(Jn 14:27). The Risen Jesus Christ’s gift to his disciples “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:20-21). So Jesus is a man of peace, giving peace to the world and bringing salvation to the world those who receive him, believe in him and accept Jesus as the Messiah and the Lord of the universe. The three readings are clear: “faithfulness to God often entails suffering. Jesus himself suffered and announced, “if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too” (Jn 15:20). It does not mean that those who follow Jesus must renounce all peace, joy and happiness.

There are three main reasons for his saying:

Jesus covered three gross misconceptions of man.

1. Misconception 1: The Messiah was to bring peace on earth (v.49-53)

a. Truth 1: He came to bring judgment

b. Truth 2: He came to suffer and die

c. Truth 3: He came to bring division

2. Misconception 2: The Messiah has not yet come (v.54-57)

a. Truth 1: People discern the weather, i.e. earthly events

b. Truth 2: People do not discern the signs of times, the Messianic age

c. Truth 3: People do not discern spiritual matters

3. Misconception 3: Men have no need to make peace with God (v.58-59)

a. Truth 1: People have a bad case before God, the judge

b. Truth 2: The time is urgent-“try hard”

c. Truth 3: The surety of payment, that is judgment

Thought: The believer is to love God first and foremost then his/her family or friends.

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