Monday of the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Today in the Gospel, we hear these troubling words from Jesus, “do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.”
If you think the world has gone topsy-turvy today, just imagine the disciples’ reaction when they heard this! What does this even mean? Especially when we hear Jesus say, “my peace I leave with you,” in the Gospel of St. John.
Jesus is peace; he offers us his peace alone. This is not the peace the world offers, like pride, money, and anything that looks attractive that can lead us away from God. If we stray from God then we will certainly receive the sword that Jesus promises to give.
In the responsorial psalm for today, we read, “to the upright, I will show the saving power of God.” It’s not too late to avoid the sword, the punishment that God is planning to give if we don’t change our ways of this world and turn to God.
I urge you to go to confession; experience the love and true peace that God wants to give you. Once we receive and feel this love and peace, what more could we want out of this world?
Do not hold this peace to yourself alone, but instead go out and spread that love and peace to others, just like the Lord told his followers at his ascension into heaven, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources