Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Reflection for October 22, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 12:49-53

Gospel: 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.”
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Reflection:
Are you ready to stand for Jesus even if it creates division?

All along we have this impression of Jesus as a unifying factor, as a man of peace. But what the gospel presents to us is contrary to these images of Jesus. Because what we have is a divisive Jesus that creates conflict amongst family members.

 Indeed, Jesus creates conflict amongst family members even friends. That is who Jesus is, He is not afraid to create a wedge amongst us so that we will straighten our crooked ways. For example, if some members of your family don’t want to go to Sunday Mass, what will you do? Will you simply keep quiet and just let it be? Of course not!

You have to speak and gently remind those members of your family who don’t want to worship God at Mass. Another example, let us say that a member of your family had a pregnancy out of wedlock and a member of your family is suggesting an abortion. Will you simply keep silent about it? Of course not!

A true follower is someone who is not afraid to say what is in his mind even if it is unpopular. Even if it creates temporary division among members of your family and friends.

Let us always remember that as followers of Jesus it is always our responsibility to gently correct those whom we feel are going against the will of God. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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