Today's readings present us with challenging truths, inviting us to contemplate PERSECUTION , PARTING , and God's underlying PURPOSE...
Today's readings present us with challenging truths, inviting us to contemplate PERSECUTION, PARTING, and God's underlying PURPOSE in it all.
In the First Reading from Exodus, we encounter the chilling account of a new Pharaoh who, fearing the growing numbers of the Israelites, subjected them to brutal PERSECUTION. Their lives were made bitter with forced labor, and eventually, a decree was issued to drown their male infants. This was a time of immense suffering, a stark reminder of humanity's capacity for cruelty and oppression when threatened by the perceived "other." Yet, even in this oppression, we see an ironic twist: the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied. God's ultimate purpose was already at work, even through the designs of evil.
The Gospel from Matthew reveals Jesus speaking with equally striking intensity. He declares, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." This "sword" is not one of violence, but of radical division and PARTING. Following Christ often means a separation from worldly attachments, from comfort, and sometimes even from family members who do not share the same commitment. Jesus is clear: to be His disciple means taking up one's cross, losing one's life for His sake to truly find it. This is a call to a radical discipleship that may lead to alienation and suffering—a form of spiritual persecution for choosing Him above all else.
In both readings, despite the harshness of persecution and the painful reality of parting, there is an overarching divine PURPOSE. For the Israelites, their suffering paved the way for their liberation and the grand narrative of the Exodus. For Christ's followers, the divisions and sacrifices are not ends in themselves, but pathways to genuine life, a deeper encounter with God, and a greater reward. Let us reflect on how we respond when our faith leads to discomfort or division. Do we shrink from the challenge, or do we trust in God's ultimate purpose, knowing that true peace often emerges from the courageous choice to follow Him, no matter the cost?
No comments