I have come to bring the sword.

"Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword." (Matthew 10: 34).

Monday 13th July 2020, 15th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Henry. (973 - 1024). German. Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII. How was a powerful man of the world, a man of war and international politics raised to the Altar as a saint? Henry used his wealth and power to promote the Kingdom of God by supporting missionary work. In spite of his cares of the earthly Roman Empire, his gaze was on Heaven, the eternal Kingdom.

Are you shocked by the words of Jesus in today's Gospel?
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword." Scripture tells us that Jesus is not just Prince of Peace but Peace Himself. Yet the Prince of Peace tells us that that He came to bring the sword. This statement was made to the Apostles before their missionary journey. The statement is to underline the reality that missionary work is not a vacation in Monte Casino. It is very serious business. Our saint of the day was involved in many bloody wars. So was King David, "the man after God's heart." The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are prepared to fight and seize it by force. (Cf Matthew 11: 12).

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." Challenges to the commitment of making the Kingdom of God first priority will come from families, friends, companies, governments, etc. The Christian must be prepared to draw his sword to fight the good fight.

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12: 30).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com