The Gospel this week strikes a chord with us as we see the divisions that rack our communities, our country, and our world.  Every day we read about conflicts: trade wars, terrorism, racial prejudice, mass shootings, and political animus.  In our streets, we see confrontations among people who represent strongly held views on race, and guns, and police, and identity.  We hear about the ongoing divisions in the Middle East, the protests in Hong Kong, and civil unrest in Haiti.  Within our Church, we are aware of the challenge of trusting in our clergy.  We experience divisions between more conservative and more progressive wings of the Church, and even within the hierarchy of the Vatican and the Pope.

Jesus said He had come to spread division.  I wonder if He could have envisioned the complexity of the divisions facing the world today.  I am not sure it matters.  The division Christ came to sew is in the realization that we must meet conflict with unconditional love and forgiveness.  It is a timeless message that we all would do well to remember.  When we treat those with whom we are in conflict with dignity and understanding, we take away most of the fight.

Jesus came to set the world on fire with His message of inclusiveness.  We are all made in God’s image. No exceptions.  Through Baptism, we share in His mission of radical love.  If each of us is willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the divisions will grow smaller.  The flames of His Kingdom will burn brighter. The promise of redemption will be fulfilled.  May His will be done!