Homily for the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Our Gospel passage today concludes an important sermon known as the Missionary Discourse, which Jesus delivered to those who would carry on His work. The Scriptures remind us that following God's will can be challenging and may even disrupt our peace. Jesus states, "I have come not to bring peace, but the sword."

In this statement, Jesus refers to the suffering and conflict we may experience in our lives. We can recall Simeon's words to Mary as he held the infant Jesus: "This child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and will be a sign that will be contradicted." Throughout history, many incidents have shown God's people facing oppression due to racial bias and nationalistic envy.

Similar to politics, disagreements about religion can create tensions within families. What the Lord offers is not "peace at any price," but a unique peace that comes from being close to Jesus. If there is conflict within our families, let it arise from personal conscience rather than from any dominating or judgmental attitudes. We are called to be sincere rather than authoritarian. Jesus encourages us to welcome others and appreciate the gifts they offer. Even something as simple as a cup of cold water will be recorded in the Book of Life as a commendable action.