This is not a favorite passage for preaching. "Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth?" (Luke 12:51). Well, now that you ask, Jesus, yes. I mean, we call you the Prince of Peace, and I remember the angels at your nativity and their anthem about "Peace on earth." What's going on?

From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. — Luke 12:52-53 (NRSV)

Well, Lord, the in-law against in-law conflict is not exactly unheard of. Come to think of it, the father-son and mother-daughter clashes are not news either. And, yes, even over matter…