Romans 6:12-18 / Luke 12:39-48
We, the members of the Church are often referred to as instruments of God in which He will manifest His presence in the world.
Besides that we are also called channels of His peace and love, as the hymn "Make me a channel of Your peace" would put it.
All those descriptions give a picture of gentleness and docility, and it also gives the picture that we have to work and build the kingdom of God.
But the 1st reading gives us another image of being a Christian. It describes Christians as weapons.
It also gives the scenario of a battle, and the Christian has to make a decision as to what kind of weapon he/she is to be used for.
The 1st reading urged Christians not to let any part of their bodies turn into an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin.
Rather, Christians should offer themselves to God and make every part of their bodies into a weapon fighting on the side of God.
So the spiritual life of a Christian is not just about being an instrument or channel of God and working and building the Kingdom of God under calm and peaceful conditions.
There is also the need to protect the Church and the Kingdom of God by being weapons of God to fight evil and wickedness.
It is also by being instruments and channels of God's peace and love that we protect the weak and poor and helpless from harm and exploitation and oppression.
So whether it is being an instrument of God or weapon of God, we must be alert and always stand ready on God's side.