Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8) – June 28, 2026
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, 
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 
And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
- Matthew 10:34-36-
Summertime is filled with family and friends gathering for celebrations, reunions, weddings, vacations and countless other activities. All sorts of people and their beliefs coming together are sure to spark a fair amount of conflict, particularly between family! Jesus himself tells us in Matthew 10:36, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Ever been excited to attend a special gathering only to come away with regret for having said something that made someone mad? We can all relate on some level because we’re human. But as Christians, we are called to be imitators of Christ. However, we are not promised as Christians that every conflict or confrontation will end peacefully; quite the contrary.
Conflict, however, can be an excellent opportunity for us to grow in our faith and understanding of grace and truth towards others. How and when we choose to speak truth to others comes with an understanding of grace. God’s love for us is so strong that he offers his grace freely even though we don’t deserve it. As we grow in relationship with God, we can discern his will for us and how we are to treat others.
As we attend to our daily walk with Christ, he will help us put things into perspective. All those fun gatherings with family and friends can end well when we choose to respond as God does with us through grace and understanding. Daily reading of God’s Word arms us with the power of the Holy Spirit and the right way to respond to others. Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
A beautiful reminder of the truth is found in Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” God’s word is indeed a living word. Amen.
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8) – June 28, 2026
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, 
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 
And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
- Matthew 10:34-36-
Summertime is filled with family and friends gathering for celebrations, reunions, weddings, vacations and countless other activities. All sorts of people and their beliefs coming together are sure to spark a fair amount of conflict, particularly between family! Jesus himself tells us in Matthew 10:36, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Ever been excited to attend a special gathering only to come away with regret for having said something that made someone mad? We can all relate on some level because we’re human. But as Christians, we are called to be imitators of Christ. However, we are not promised as Christians that every conflict or confrontation will end peacefully; quite the contrary.
Conflict, however, can be an excellent opportunity for us to grow in our faith and understanding of grace and truth towards others. How and when we choose to speak truth to others comes with an understanding of grace. God’s love for us is so strong that he offers his grace freely even though we don’t deserve it. As we grow in relationship with God, we can discern his will for us and how we are to treat others.
As we attend to our daily walk with Christ, he will help us put things into perspective. All those fun gatherings with family and friends can end well when we choose to respond as God does with us through grace and understanding. Daily reading of God’s Word arms us with the power of the Holy Spirit and the right way to respond to others. Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
A beautiful reminder of the truth is found in Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” God’s word is indeed a living word. Amen.