divided we fall — and rise
“I have come for division.” —Luke 12:51
Jesus is the Divine Physician (see Mt 9:12). In an operation to remove a malignant tumor, a surgeon divides the healthy cells from the cancerous cells. He removes only the cancer and leaves the rest. Likewise, Jesus divides the good and bad (Mt 25:32).
Jesus is “the Carpenter” (Mk 6:3). In His workshop, He divided strong wood from rotten wood. He divided broken nails from sturdy ones. “What was useless [He] threw away” (Mt 13:48).
Jesus is the Word of God (Jn 1:1). He, the Living Word, “divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow” and “judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Heb 4:12). He divides us from sinful thoughts, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and impurity.
Jesus is in perfect communion with the Holy Spirit and “the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name” (Eph 3:14-15). As He divides all else, Jesus also divides families if they need to be rebuilt or restored (Lk 12:52-53). If necessary, Jesus will divide father and son, mother and daughter, in-laws, and anyone or anything that divides the family from God’s plan.
Why has Jesus “come for division”? (Lk 12:51) It is because God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Love is consuming. Love suffers “anguish” (Lk 12:50) until we “attain to the fullness of God Himself” (Eph 3:19). Love can’t tolerate anything holding us back from that fullness. Therefore, repent completely of anything that holds you back from the Lord — before Jesus has to divide you from it.
Prayer: Father, bestow on us gifts in keeping with the riches of Your glory (Eph 3:16).
Promise: “I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited!” —Lk 12:49
Praise: Jesus set Chris free from emotional illness after twenty-four years of struggle.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2023, through November 30, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 15, 2023"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.