From Father Andrew Bahhi: The Power of the Heavenly Sword
After the Pentecost, we see the readings of Jesus talking more with his disciples. Until the Feast of the 12 Disciples, we indicate something very important: Jesus was preparing his disciples to bring the word of salvation to everyone. He taught them a lot of teachings.
Some people struggle with these readings, as Jesus says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34-36)
People say “Abuna, we are Christians and don’t believe in killing. Why the sword?” But we need to understand that Jesus does not mean the tool of the sword, but it is more about what the sword does – it separates two things. He wants to tell us “I have to separate between the truth and falsehood.”
If there is an enemy in your life, Jesus says “I’ve come to separate the enemy from your life by having faith in me through the heavenly sword.” Paul says the sword is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
He is talking about his word.
Be ready for the non-believers to persecute you. There is no fellowship between the darkness and the light. There is no fellowship in our life between Jesus in church, and our worldly life. “This life is not according to my teaching,” Jesus is saying. “I have to separate, otherwise you are fooling yourself.”
A “sword” is between the truth and what is false. It separates and cuts between those who only have the “mask” of religious, and those who have the heart of a true Christian.
At Matthew verse 37, Jesus also says: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Why is he saying this? Whatever we love most in our life, the enemy attacks it in order to hurt us the most. So Jesus says “If I become #1, and the evil one attacks #1, then he will attack me. And I am the only one who will protect you.”
When Jesus tells us and teaches us to love him more than anything else, like our children, it is because the evil one attacks the most important thing in our life. But if I have Jesus, I will only through Jesus see I am very blessed with our children and he will take care of them.
Have him in your life, accept him. Ask him to separate sin from your life, and have him be #1 in our life. He is teaching us how to protect ourselves by having faith in him.
Learn more in Father Andrew’s sermon video here.
Recommended Posts
The Gift of God – By Mor Andrawos Bahhi
February 25, 2024
Saint Stephen – By Father Gabriel Alkass
January 28, 2024
“The Bread of Life” by Father Gabriel Alkass
January 21, 2024