The first reading during weekdays is not chosen to accompany the Gospel like it is on Sundays. Rather, both the first reading and the Gospel progress semi-continuously through a given book until the book is finished. Sometimes the themes of the readings that land on the same day seem rather at odds. Even that observation seems apt for today, considering the theme of division in Luke’s Gospel! Just two days ago, we heard in the St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that Christ “is our peace, he made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity.” And today, the letter continues to say that “every family in heaven and on earth is named” before the Father, to be granted the riches of his glory. Then Jesus says in the Gospel that he has not come to establish peace on the earth, but division within families.

And yet, God is one, and the Word is of God. How might these themes be integrated?

Perhaps his words in the Gospel are like St. Ignatius’ meditation on the two standards. Do I stand under Christ’s banner, or not? Where I choose to stand, and with whom, defines something about me in a public way. It says something about my principles and beliefs. I certainly hear a lot of advertisements in this election season telling me so, and while the ads seem to sow more division than peace, I think that element is true. So then, how do I choose to stand with Christ as I live in the world, especially a world that seems so divided?

I think perhaps part of the mystery of Christ, a mystery in which I place much hope, is how he holds seemingly disparate elements together. That mysterious unity amidst every kind of diversity may come through the foundation St. Paul so beautifully describes to the Ephesians in today’s epistle: if Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, if we are rooted and grounded in the immense love of Christ that surpasses knowledge and imagination, then Christ unifies us on some deeper level despite everything. Christ’s love overwhelms fears and division, even if, as Jesus alludes to in the Gospel, participating in and responding to that love leads to a cross. Let us continue to hope in “him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine!”

“Hearts on Fire” (M.D. Ridge & Timothy Smith) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n-Mmi6M-AY