Christ the King by Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

No middle way

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. (Matthew 10: 34)

Gospel Pearls 12_07_2021

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. (Matthew 10: 34-42. 11:1)

Jesus, in his infinite goodness, would never desire to create division among mankind. Yet Jesus is also the Truth and, as such, He cannot lie and pretend that there will be no problems or that everyone will accept Him. Jesus knows all too well that He cannot be loved by those who prefer to continue living lies and in sin. Sinful persons want eliminate those who, by their adherence to the truth, make their evil ways all the more evident. That is why there will always be division among mankind and the good will always be persecuted. So which side do you want to be on? Remember that there is no middle way: you are either with Jesus or against Him.