Peace Is the Presence of Christ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Jesus says something in today’s Gospel that can make us uncomfortable: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” So what does He mean? Jesus is not talking about violence or war. The “sword” He speaks of is the difficult choice every disciple must make. Following Him means deciding who comes first in our lives. Sometimes that decision creates tension because not everyone will understand our commitment to Christ.

Think about it. Every important decision in life costs us something. A student who wants to succeed gives up some free time to study. An athlete sacrifices comfort to train. A husband and wife give up living only for themselves because they choose to love each other. Love always involves sacrifice. Jesus is saying that loving Him is no different. If we want to be His disciples, we cannot simply fit Him into our lives when it is convenient. He must become the center of our lives. That is why He says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus is not asking us to love our families less; He is asking us to love Him first so that we can love everyone else better.

Then Jesus says something even more challenging: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” We often think the cross is only about suffering, but the cross is first about love. Jesus carried the cross because He loved us. Every Christian has a cross – not because God enjoys seeing us struggle, but because love always requires sacrifice. Forgiving someone who hurt you is a cross. Remaining faithful in marriage is a cross. Choosing honesty when lying would be easier is a cross. Standing up for your faith when others laugh at you is a cross. The cross is simply the place where our love becomes real.

Jesus also reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness matters. He says that whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of His little ones will not lose his reward. That is encouraging because not everyone is called to do extraordinary things.

The challenge of today’s Gospel is simple: Who is first in my life? We often say that Jesus is Lord, but our priorities reveal the truth. What takes most of my attention? What shapes my decisions? What am I unwilling to surrender? Following Jesus is not always the easiest path, but it is always the path that leads to real life. The world promises happiness without sacrifice, but Jesus promises joy through faithful love. The sword He brings is not meant to destroy us; it cuts away whatever keeps us from becoming the people God created us to be.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never promised that following You would be easy, but You promised that You would always be with us. Give us the courage to choose You above everything else. Help us to carry our crosses with love, to remain faithful when discipleship is difficult, and to serve others even in the smallest ways. May our lives show that You are truly the center of our hearts. Teach us to love You first, so that we may love everyone else as You love them. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko