At Christmas time, we hear
hymns quoting Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The most famous rendering of coarse is Handel’s Messiah.
So how do we reconcile Prince of Peace with the words of Jesus in today's gospel?
“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell
you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided,
three against two and two against three; they will be divided."
The key here to understanding is in
Jesus’ words, “I came to bring fire to the earth,
and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized,
and what stress I am under until it is completed!" – His passion and death
on the cross.
Some think of peace as everyone getting
along. For us Canadians it is our boast. We are a peaceful nation, home of many
cultures, languages; a model for all to imitate. Unfortunately, today more than
ever, we hear that the best way to achieve this peace is by keeping religion
out of the conversation. So when Catholic voices speak about, God’s revealed
truth, right to life, marriage and family, sexual morality, doctor assisted suicide, they are severely
criticized.
The “fire” Jesus says he comes to
bring is a cleansing fire, a fire of
divine truth to challenge untruth, to engage in battle with the Deceiver, the
distorter of God’s truth. His cross is not some unfortunate event caused because he
was not careful about what he said, it was directly because of what he said,
and those refusing to listen, becoming angered and enraged.
Jesus did not proclaim His
message by forcing it upon anyone, it was spoken with compassion and mercy –
full of healing and forgiveness; but also proclaimed without compromise. That
Baptism Jesus speaks of is his Cross, and it is our same baptism. We are baptized to be evangelists like Jesus, witnesses to God's truth.
So when we live and speak in
imitation of Jesus, there will be some who will take offence. I wonder how much
the Catholic voice today is hesitating to speak the gospel, feeling
compelled to be politically correct, lest someone might be offended?
Our evangelizing is not to be "an in your face" way of speaking. It is not accomplished by passing judgement, rather by confessing one's conviction and witnessing by one's life lived.
A beautiful model of a true
evangelist is given by St. Peter:
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you
should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats;
do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in
Christ may be ashamed of their slander, 1 Peter 3:13
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