but a sword

Monday, July 13, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Exodus 1:8-14, 22 Psalm 124:1-8 Matthew 10:34 -- 11:1

Matthew 10:34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

This doesn’t mean that Jesus wants us to fight.  It means that he wants us to stand up for what is right, and if that means we have to fight, then so be it.  We think that non-violence is peace, but it isn’t. There can be peaceful oppression.  There was peace in Egypt when the Jews were slaves.  To have peace we must do what is right and stand up against injustice.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to stand up for what is right and against injustice.

Amen