Today’s gospel is full of challenge. At the best of times, we resist messages of doom. That’s especially true in today’s world, ravaged as it is by war and conflict. It’s hard to find anything hopeful in Jesus’ words. He is promising us, not the peace and reconciliation we need, but conflict and dissension:
“Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three…”
Throughout the gospel Jesus is direct about the struggles that come from following him. Painful as his words are we all recognise the truth of them. We all know that following the gospel will bring us into conflict with others, even with other Christians who interpret it differently. We can’t deny that they do mirror the reality of our conflict riven world.
This could make it all too easy to be drawn into hopelessness, losing sight of the kingdom we seek. But, much as Jesus challenges his followers, he never leaves us without hope.
In the second reading St Paul draws our attention to that hope. In his letter to the Hebrews he calls us not to lose our focus. He tells us that whatever we face in life we should keep our attention focused on Christ:
“Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection…”
He reminds us not to let ourselves be distracted or turned away from Christ by the challenges and conflicts we face. It is by returning our attention to Christ that we will find hope and joy in circumstances that might feel hopeless.
What helps you to keep focused on Christ presence in challenging times?