Even in the best of families

Holidays are a wonderful time for families.

Holidays are a stressful time for families.

Even in the best of families, the year-end gatherings of Thanksgiving and Christmas can be occasions when various issues can surface and cause conflicts that may explode and then simmer for another year.

Usually, of course, these issues and conflicts are relatively petty in the great scheme of things.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:17-22), our Lord foretells times of truly horrific family conflict.

Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents
and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

There are some societies in this world where this level of lethal persecution takes place today. Most of us, at present, are fortunate not to live in them.

Yet we need to be strong against the subtler forms of persecution and pressure that try to prevent our fully living out our Christian faith.

Even in the best of families.