Readings
I - Rom. : 6:19-23
II - Lk. 12: 49-53
PEACE - THE PROMISE OF JESUS TO THE PERSONS OF GOODWILL
The Prince of Peace prophesied by Prophet Isaiah (Is. 9:6) upon whose birth the angel sang in unison, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will” (Lk. 12: 14), in today’s Gospel passage says, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Lk. 12:51). A division based on love, peace and justice. There is constant strife between the values of the Kingdom of God and the values of the world; the principles of the Good and the principles of the Evil and between God the creator and the evil, the destroyer. This strife exists even in the family. Some choose to live for God, come what may while others are content with the compromising life that is convenient resulting in division in the very own family between the kith and the kin. Choosing to live up to the life and teaching of Christ Jesus can alienate one from family, friends, society and the nation at large making him a sign of conflict and contradiction causing opposition, confusion, misunderstanding, persecution and suffering. Still the person seem to enjoy and unlimited peace within himself or herself. This is the peace that the world cannot give and this is the peace of the risen Lord left with us as his gift to the persons of goodwill. The peace which the world can neither give not sniff from the people of God - "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (Jn. 14:27).
Choosing to live for God is a risk and challenge that demands a lot of courage. May the Lord Jesus give the courage to live up to his teachings so that we become credible and witnessing disciples of Jesus, transforming the world wherever we are still without losing the gift of peace given to us by our Risen Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Jesus Lord fill me with your peace”.
