Paul's beautiful prayer for the community of the Ephesians is deeply inspired by the Spirit in an almost poetic way: "I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." This is the desire of every Christian.

Paul's words are in stark contrast to the challenging words of Jesus in the Gospel. What does he really mean when he says that he will bring division? Jesus' word of judgement is meant to call people to take seriously the consequences of their choices - either for or against God. The essence of Christianity is response to the love of Jesus Christ, a love that takes precedence over every other relationship. And if we take Paul's beautiful prayer to heart, then the choice becomes obvious because our only choice can be to respond to the love of Christ.

When we think of the challenge of Jesus' words to family relationships, it is important to understand that He is calling us to make Him the centre bonding force in all our relationships. I love my father and mother, yes, because I owe them respect but how much more do I love them when I make the love of Christ the centre of that love.