Not Peace But Division

Luke 12:22-30

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.”


The gospel reading today is poignant for me coming as it does in the aftermath of a very emotional week with family. When I was young, I never dreamed the piercing declaration of Jesus in this passage would ever have much of a connection to my family. My family, at least on my mother’s side were all faithful believers, active in the church and, as I have come to learn over the years, dedicated students of the word. We did not experience division based upon belief. Not that we did not have different perspectives on things but when it came time to celebrate Christmas, Easter, or any given Sunday, we

all suited up and showed up, as the saying goes. It never occurred to me that what seemed monolithic, and eternal would prove fragile and hard to sustain over time. Once we are all on the same page but now we are not even all in a book of any kind much less the same one.

The concern I have is not over which expression of faith we pursue, be it Catholic or Protestant because what we share in common is far more significant than where we differ. Belief in an all-powerful, merciful, and loving God is the benchmark for all of us who still believe and who are still active.

My sister and her family have taken a left turn. I am not sure there is even a modicum of belief in God in Jessica and Jackson. I do not know that for sure but at the very least they fall into the agnostic category. Marcia herself is on her own journey but we never really talk about what her perception of God and belief looks like. Our differing beliefs do not divide us, not in the way Jesus describes in this passage but we are no longer intimately connected on a spiritual basis like we once were or like I would like to believe we were.

I am also saddened that neither Richard nor Brian have stayed in a Christian church much less the Catholic church. The sadness and regret are deepened by the realization of my failure to be a good role model and to catechize them well enough to have them remain active in a religious and spiritual plane. I have no doubt they still believe but I am not sure how much of the traditional Catholic teachings they still hold on to even in a vague, cultural capacity.

They have become partners with women I love and appreciate but they did not bring any kind of faith to the relationships, and they may well be partially responsible for the chasm that now exists between themselves on God. We have chosen to not make a big deal of lack of faith, belief, and practice but there is an ache in my heart that family gatherings do not include an active faith practice and our church life is wholly separated from our children and granddaughter. This saddens me and today my sorrow is even deeper.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to be of service to my cousin Carri and her family by offering my charism to lead a memorial celebration of life for cousin Quinn, a man I never met prior to his death which is a whole other area of regret for me. When facing the desire to get to Washington and meet my family there, I always seem to have something more important get in the way of getting there. Now Quinn is gone but a blessing comes because I had the opportunity to learn as much about him as I could. I would have liked him, and I suspect he would have liked me even though we might have been so different.

It is a fact; however, it would have been better that I not have been the leader. It should have been the job of ordained clergy who knew Quinn and that Quinn had been part of the clergy's church. I do not doubt that our merciful God will judge him with justice, but a family member should not have been obliged to moderate a spiritual but not religious liturgy.

Do not misunderstand. I was honored to be able to bridge the gaps between belief, uncertainty, and unbelief. It is part of my evangelical mission of being of service to my family and the world and I hope to help others to see a light of faith that might be drawn them closer but in the end, we are divided, and I do not see the divisions being closed anytime soon. It is, of course, not up to me but I care enough to do what I can.

This morning I pray for Quinn, the rest of my family, and all other people who have become or always were separated. Jesus, bring the fire of baptism to my family and help me to be a candle bearer motivated by deep and abiding love to serve and be of service. Help me to reach out to be the missionary you have called me to be.