“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Since I was very young, this scripture reading has sent chills up the back of my spine. The faith that I was raised in proclaimed a loving and merciful Jesus. But here he proclaims to divide up my family of four brothers and a sister. Why would he want to destroy this cherished relationship? Yet, each of us have since moved far away. We have drawn our own conclusions. We each adhere to our own beliefs. Yes, my family has drifted apart. We are divided in so many ways.

We are all aware of division in our lives today. We know the stark political sides; the racial protests; the call for women’s equality; LGBTQ+ rights; the outcries for justice; the Covid mask debate; and the question, “what is truth?” These divisions have clearly brought separation, broken down our communications, and created oppositions in our nation, our community, in our families and within our faith. Is this the division that Jesus has brought to us, or the division that we have created, by justifying our own truth and not following Christ?

Jesus told his disciples, at the last supper, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you…(For) the Holy Spirt that the Father will send in my name-he will teach you everything.” Yes, not as the world gives, but by the Holy Spirit will we begin to understand the Truth, which will guide us in the ways of peace. Through our baptism, we have received this gift of guidance. And when we see with eyes and hear with ears of faith, we become aware of a Truth, which is wiser than our own. We learn to trust the Spirit to lead us in ways that bring understanding, not confusion; bring hope, not despair; bring unity, not separation. We are not led to the division that we see in the world, but to a peace in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps Jesus is telling us that following him will create opposition. But when we follow in his footsteps, we find peace through his Truth, which the world cannot offer us. And in the peace of Christ, we are led by the Spirit in the ways of kindness, patience and love. Yes, in Christ’s peace we are present to the world, showing the way to those who are sick and tired of division, and have drifted away.

Did you hear they passed a law banning ice cream?

Don’t worry, it was ruled un-cone-stitutional!

Students and families, please join us for our ice cream social on Tuesday, August 22, 2022. Students will be able to meet their teachers and see their classrooms at 3:00pm followed by ice cream on the Hermitage Lot.

Saint Andrew School is looking for a dynamic Middle School math/science teacher for the 22/23 school year! Contact Principal Sarah Casavechia at sarahcasavechia@gosaintandrew.com if you are interested.

We have limited seats still available for the 2022/23 School Year!

Please contact Anne Japsen in Admissions at annejapsen@gosaintandrew.com for more information. Come join us and experience what makes our Blue Ribbon School so special. www.gosaintandrew.com