Mary I and Elizabeth I

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. - Matthew 10:19-22a

This verse has never sat right with me. Too many people use it to justify their controversial political and spiritual decisions, pointing to this verse to try to make their naysayers into lesser believers. Some try to say that they must be loving Jesus right when everyone else is upset with them, when the exact opposite might be more true. Nonetheless, families have indeed been driven apart because of faith - even if that faith is simply another expression of Christianity. The conflict between Catholic and Protestant faith shows this tension very clearly.

The English church technically separated from Rome in 1534 under the notorious Henry VIII, but that was not the end of the debate. Under his son Edward VI's short reign the church became more radical, and there were some who hoped for greater Protestant reform in the country. This was the main hope of much political turmoil following Edward's death, until Mary I received power and technically rejoined the Roman church in 1555. Her battle to keep control of the country and enforce Catholicism led to her moniker Bloody Mary, as she had 300 religious dissenters executed in her just over four year's reign. Her half-sister (and successor, should she fail to produce a male heir) was the Protestant Elizabeth, who she had imprisoned but refused to execute.

Elizabeth did indeed ascend to the throne in 1558 and re-established Protestantism. In spite of their vast political and especially religious differences, it seems the sisters held no truly ill will towards each other. Mary kept Elizabeth from death during her reign, and it seems that Elizabeth did not fault Mary for her actions. In fact, today the sisters are buried together in the same tomb in Westminster Abbey. Next to the tomb, a plaque noting the religious conflict personified by the two sisters and Queens reminds us that people do truly rise against each other even when they believe to be fighting exclusively for Christ's sake.

Stories like these remind me that Jesus' words in the verse from Matthew aren't carte blanche to stir up trouble and call it faith. Instead, it is a sad statement on the sinfulness of humanity. Even something as unifying and inspiring as Christian faith can be warped in our drive for power and prestige, until we convince ourselves to even fight our brother and sister.

Merciful God, our own brokenness keeps us from worshiping you in spirit and truth. Instead, we fight amongst ourselves and try to prove ourselves more worth of you. Help us instead to seek peace, unity, and shared proclamation of your holy name no matter what church, denomination, or ideal we represent. We ask this in the one name of your Son Jesus. Amen.