Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 476
Lectionary: 476
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Brothers and
sisters:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Responsorial PsalmPS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R. (Ps 40:5) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
GospelLK 12:49-53
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Meditation: "I came to cast fire upon the
earth"
Do you
want to be on fire for God? Jesus shocked his disciples when he declared that
he would cast fire and cause division rather than peace upon the earth. What
kind of fire did Jesus have in mind here? Fire in biblical times was associated
with God and with his action in the world and in the lives of his people.
God sometimes manifested his presence by use of fire, such as the burning bush
which was not consumed when God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2). The image of fire
was also used to symbolize God's glory (Ezekiel 1:4, 13), his protective
presence (2 Kings 6:17), his holiness (Deuteronomy 4:24), righteous judgment
(Zechariah 13:9), and his wrath against sin (Isaiah 66:15-16). It is also used
of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11 and Acts 2:3). God's fire both purifies and
cleanses, and it inspires a reverent fear of God and of his word in us.
Jesus’
sharp statement that he would cause division rather than peace within families
must have shocked his disciples.Was he exaggerating? Jesus used a typical
Hebrew (Semetic) hyperbole to drive home an important lesson. We often do the
same when we want to emphasize something very strongly. Jesus’ hyperbole,
however, did contain a real warning that the gospel message does have
consequences for our lives. It has the power to heal, restore, and unite those
who believe its message. But the consequence of ignoring or rejecting the
gospel can lead to many hurtful desires and seduction by the world.
When
Jesus spoke about division he likely had in mind the prophecy of Micah: a
man's enemies are the men of his own household (Micah 7:6). The
essence of Christianity is loyalty to Jesus Christ, a loyalty that takes
precedence over every other relationship. The love of God compels us to choose
who will be first in our lives. To place any relationship (or anything else)
above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who
they love first and foremost. A true disciple loves God above all else and is
willing to forsake all for Jesus Christ. Jesus insists that his disciples give
him the loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse
or kin. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies, if the thought
of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do. Does the love of
Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Corinthians 5:14)?
"Lord
Jesus, may your love consume me and transform my life that I may truly desire
nothing more than life with you. Make me strong in love and fidelity that
nothing may hinder me from doing your will."
 Jesus’ Fire Must Be My Own |
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Thursday of the
Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Steven
Reilly, LC
Luke 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have
come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There
is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until
it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the
earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will
be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided
against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her
daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Introductory Prayer: Father, I place myself in your presence. I
firmly believe in you and love you with all my heart. I entrust myself
completely to your merciful but demanding ways, knowing that you only seek to
lead me home to heaven.
Petition: Lord, help me to ignite awareness of your
love all around me.
1. The Spark That Must Become a Blaze: Jesus’ intensity and passion break out in
radical expression in today’s Gospel. He yearns for a divine conflagration in
the hearts of his disciples. Jesus endured a true baptism of immersion,
steeped in the pain of Golgotha, precisely so that our own baptism would not
be a mere ceremony. Rather he wanted our baptism to be a holy spark of divine
life that, with care and formation, would become a growing flame of authentic
Christian holiness. Indeed, let us fan that flame and never allow external
pressures, or our own mediocrity, to extinguish it.
2. Peace, at Any Price? Jesus corrects a misperception in some of
his listeners. Some no doubt expected him to usher in the messianic peace,
when the lion would lie down with the lamb (see Isaiah 11:6-9). No, the time
for that peace will be at history’s end, when God’s Kingdom is established in
all its fullness. Till then, Christianity will often find itself in conflict
with the powers of the world. We want to be considered nice people, yet our
convictions will at times bring us conflict. May the spark of our soul be a
strong-enough flame to accept those moments and avoid the cheap peace of acquiescing
with the world.
3. Put Up Your Dukes? Should Catholics be people spoiling for a
fight? Not if they want to be good Catholics! Those who love fighting and
arguing may very well find themselves in divided households, but not for the
reasons Jesus really means. Courtesy, gentleness, and the finer details of
charity should characterize the person who wants to be like Christ. These
kinds of people seek to unite, not divide. When they are dividers, it is
because they have to be. They know when the point arrives that if they bend
any further, they’ll break — where flexibility would degenerate into
infidelity. There are tough, sad moments when being faithful to Christ means
a head-on collision in a very important relationship, such as the ones Jesus
mentions. But when it’s a question of where our first loyalty lies, there is
no debate. Christ must come first.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you are the center of my life. I thank
you for my family and pray that I will never be a stumbling block for their
faith. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.
Help me, so that I will never compromise the Gospel, nor needlessly alienate
those whom you have sent me to serve.
Resolution: I will strive to set a good spiritual
example for my family and will invite someone who has strayed to consider
coming back.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, LUKE 12:49-53
(Romans 6:19-23; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!" (v 49).
READING: John the Baptist told his followers that the Messiah would baptize with the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit (Lk 3:16). The fire that consumed Jesus was a passion to redeem humanity from their sins ̶ a fire that would be ignited on the cross on Calvary. Paul knew that baptism was no mere symbolic ritual. In baptism, the Christian died to the old life and was raised to a new life in Christ (Ro 6:4). The rite of the early Church demonstrated this truth. Proselytes entered the baptismal pool stripped of their old clothing and were totally immersed in water. When the new Christian came out of the water, he or she was clothed in a white garment, a symbol of having risen with Christ (Rev 19:8). Jesus demanded radical conversion and total commitment from his disciples. Their attachment to him might even require a separation from family members who did not share their Christian beliefs. This dissension was described by the prophet Micah who said that a person's enemies might be those of their own household (Micah 7:6).
REFLECTING: Do I share my faith with my family even though I face rejection?
PRAYING: Holy Spirit, help me to live my baptismal call in everything I do.
(Romans 6:19-23; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!" (v 49).
READING: John the Baptist told his followers that the Messiah would baptize with the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit (Lk 3:16). The fire that consumed Jesus was a passion to redeem humanity from their sins ̶ a fire that would be ignited on the cross on Calvary. Paul knew that baptism was no mere symbolic ritual. In baptism, the Christian died to the old life and was raised to a new life in Christ (Ro 6:4). The rite of the early Church demonstrated this truth. Proselytes entered the baptismal pool stripped of their old clothing and were totally immersed in water. When the new Christian came out of the water, he or she was clothed in a white garment, a symbol of having risen with Christ (Rev 19:8). Jesus demanded radical conversion and total commitment from his disciples. Their attachment to him might even require a separation from family members who did not share their Christian beliefs. This dissension was described by the prophet Micah who said that a person's enemies might be those of their own household (Micah 7:6).
REFLECTING: Do I share my faith with my family even though I face rejection?
PRAYING: Holy Spirit, help me to live my baptismal call in everything I do.
Optional Memorial of Anthony Mary Claret,
bishop
Anthony Mary Claret entered the seminary at Vich, Spain, and was
ordained to the priesthood in 1835. His apostolate consisted of rural preaching
and publications (he wrote more than 150 books). Because of his success he
aroused the animosity of some of the clergy and as a result he left for the
Canary Islands (1848). In 1849 Anthony gathered together five priests who
formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain,
Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the
next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against slavery, and
regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently
threatened with death. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the
queen. He followed Isabella II into exile and was placed under house arrest in
the Cistercian monastery at Font Froide, France, where he died at the age of
63. His remains were ultimately returned to Vich. He was canonized in 1950 by
Pope Pius, XII.
UNITED NATIONS DAY
The name "United Nations" was devised by United
States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used during the Second
World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to
continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. The United Nations
officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter was
ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United
States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated
on October 24 each year for the purpose of informing the people of the world as
to the aims and achievements of the UN like UNICEF (International Children's
Emergency Fund), UNESCO (U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) and WHO (World Health Organization). Famine, disease,
malnutrition, and subsistence living standards have already been markedly
improved by teams of workers from the U.N.. They render not only direct
assistance, but train teams of locals to teach their own people.
Happy are they who hope in the Lord.
In reality that is central to our faith. Extremely stated, as it is by Paul and Jesus, this means being set free from bondage to achieve what they both call the sure hope of glory, our true destiny. Jesus personalised this deep mystery by fidelity to his mission. The ongoing conflict between good and evil that we can see all around us culminated in his crucifixion. Following Jesus, which is our mission, is in essence an engagement in the conflict between good and evil, a conflict that is just as real for us as it was for Paul and Jesus. Like them, our response is utter commitment to goodness of life and confidence in the sure hope of glory.
October 24
St. Anthony Claret
(1807-1870)
St. Anthony Claret
(1807-1870)
The "spiritual father of Cuba" was a missionary,
religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher,
archbishop and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary
Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris and to the First Vatican Council.
In his
spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, he learned
Latin and printing: The future priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at
28, he was prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian
or as a Jesuit, but went on to become one of Spain’s most popular preachers.
He spent
10 years giving popular missions and retreats, always placing great emphasis on
the Eucharist and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Her rosary, it was
said, was never out of his hand. At 42, beginning with five young priests, he
founded a religious institute of missionaries, known today as the Claretians.
He was
appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began
its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and
suffered bitter opposition mainly for opposing concubinage and giving
instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin (whose release from prison
Anthony had obtained) slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in
getting the would-be assassin’s death sentence commuted to a prison term. His
solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of
foods for the family’s own needs and for the market. This invited the enmity of
the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar.
Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections
on Agricultureand Country Delights.
He was
recalled to Spain for a job he did not relish—being chaplain for the queen. He
went on three conditions: He would reside away from the palace, he would come
only to hear the queen’s confession and instruct the children and he would be
exempt from court functions. In the revolution of 1868, he fled with the
queen’s party to Paris, where he preached to the Spanish colony.
All his
life Anthony was interested in the Catholic press. He founded the Religious
Publishing House, a major Catholic publishing venture in Spain, and wrote or
published 200 books and pamphlets.
At Vatican
I, where he was a staunch defender of the doctrine of infallibility, he won the
admiration of his fellow bishops. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore remarked of
him, "There goes a true saint." At the age of 63, he died in exile
near the border of Spain.
Stories:
Queen Isabella II once
said to Anthony, “No one tells me things as clearly and frankly as you do.”
Later she told her chaplain, “Everybody is always asking me for favors, but you
never do. Isn’t there something you would like for yourself?” He replied, “that
you let me resign.” The queen made no more offers.
Comment:
Jesus foretold that those who are truly his representatives would suffer the same persecution as he did. Besides 14 attempts on his life, Anthony had to undergo such a barrage of the ugliest slander that the very name Claret became a byword for humiliation and misfortune. The powers of evil do not easily give up their prey. No one needs to go looking for persecution. All we need to do is be sure we suffer because of our genuine faith in Christ, not for our own whims and imprudences.
Jesus foretold that those who are truly his representatives would suffer the same persecution as he did. Besides 14 attempts on his life, Anthony had to undergo such a barrage of the ugliest slander that the very name Claret became a byword for humiliation and misfortune. The powers of evil do not easily give up their prey. No one needs to go looking for persecution. All we need to do is be sure we suffer because of our genuine faith in Christ, not for our own whims and imprudences.
Quote:
Patron Saint of:
Savings
Weavers
Savings
Weavers
LECTIO: LUKE
12,49-53
Lectio:
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and everlasting God,
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 12,49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: 'I have come to
bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!
There is a baptism I must still receive, and
what constraint I am under until it is completed! 'Do you suppose that I am
here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now
on, a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against
three; father opposed to son, son to father, mother to daughter, daughter to
mother, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law to mother-in-law.'
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today gives us some phrases of
Jesus. The first one on the fire on earth is only in Luke’s Gospel. The others
have more or less parallel phrases in Matthew. This leads us to the problem of
the origin of the composition of these two Gospels for which much ink has
already been used throughout these two past centuries and this problem will
only be solved fully when we will be able to speak with Matthew and Luke, after
our resurrection.
• Luke 12, 49-50: Jesus has come to bring fire
on earth. “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were
blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and what constraint I
am under until it is completed!” The image of fire frequently is mentioned in
the Bible and does not have only one meaning. It could be the image of
devastation and of punishment, and it can also be the image of purification and
illumination (Is 1, 25; Zc 13, 9). It can also express protection as it appears
in Isaiah: “Should you pass through fire, you will not suffer” (Is 43, 2). John
the Baptist baptized with water, but after him Jesus baptized with fire (Lk 3,
16). Here the image of fire is associated to the action of the Holy Spirit who
descends every Pentecost on the image of the tongues of fire (Ac 2, 2-4). Images
and symbols never have an obligatory sense, totally defined, which does not
allow any divergence. In this case it would neither be image nor symbol. It is
proper to the symbol to arouse the imagination of the auditors and spectators.
Leaving freedom to the auditors, the image of fire combined with the image of
baptism indicates the direction toward which Jesus wants people to turn their
imagination. Baptism is associated with the water and it is always the
expression of a commitment. In another point, Baptism appears like the symbol
of the commitment of Jesus with his Passion: “Can you be baptized with the
baptism with which I will be baptized?” (Mc 10, 38-39).
• Luke 12, 51-53: Jesus has come to bring
division. Jesus always speaks of peace (Mt 5, 9; Mk 9, 50; Lk 1, 79; 10, 5; 19,
38; 24, 36; Jn 14, 27; 16, 33; 20, 21.26). And so how can we understand the
phrase in today’s Gospel which seems to say the contrary: “Do you think that I
am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you , but rather division”. This
affirmation does not mean that Jesus himself is in favour of division. No!
Jesus did not want division. But the announcement of truth that Jesus of
Nazareth was the Messiah becomes a reason for much division among the Jews. In
the same family or community, some were in favour and others were radically
contrary. In this sense, the Good News of Jesus was really a source of division
, a “sign of contradiction” (Lk 2, 34) or as Jesus said: “for from now on a
household will be divided, father opposed to son, son to father, mother to
daughter, daughter to mother, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law
to mother-in-law”. That is what was happening, in fact in the families and in
the communities: much division, much discussion, as a consequence of the Good
News among the Jews of that time, some accepting, others denying. The same
thing could be applied to the announcement of fraternity as a supreme value of
human living together. Not all agreed with this announcement, because they
preferred to maintain their privileges. And for this reason, they were not
afraid to persecute those who announced sharing and fraternity. This was the
division which arose and which and which was at the origin of the Passion and
death of Jesus. This is what was happening. Jesus wants the union of all in
truth (cf. Jn 17, 17-23). Even now it is like this. Many times there where the
Church is renewed, the call of the Good News becomes a “sign of contradiction”
and of division. Persons who during years had lived very comfortably in the
routine of their Christian life, they do not want to be disturbed or bothered
by the “innovations” of Vatican Council II. Disturbed by changes, they use all
their intelligence to find arguments to defend their own opinions and to
condemn the changes considering them contrary to what they think is their true
faith.
4) Personal questions
• Seeking union Jesus was the cause of
division. Does this happen with you today?
• How do I react before the changes in the
Church?
5) Concluding prayer
Shout for joy, you upright;
praise comes well from the honest.
Give thanks to Yahweh on the lyre,
play for him on the ten-stringed lyre. (Ps
33,1-2)
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