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:

The story is told of two childhood best friends who grew up together and eventually attended the same university. One day, the first friend noticed that something was not right with his best friend’s behavior. He asked him if something was wrong, but the second friend replied that there was nothing to worry about because everything was fine.

A few days later, the second friend was caught by the school authorities using illegal drugs. The first friend, who was a devout follower of Jesus, urged his best friend to straighten out his life. He even told him that if he continued down that path, he would have to distance himself from him.

All along, we may have viewed Jesus as a unifying force and a man of peace. And indeed, He is our Lord of peace and the source of our unity. Yet, in the Gospel, we also encounter another aspect of His mission: His teachings can become a source of division and conflict, even among family members and friends.

Why? Because following Jesus does not always make everyone happy with us. Sometimes, choosing what is right means standing against what is wrong, even when doing so displeases the people we love. Jesus challenges us to examine our lives, abandon our sinful ways, and remain faithful to God, even when the cost of doing so is painful.

For example, if some members of our family refuse to attend Sunday Mass, should we simply keep quiet and let things be? Of course not! We can gently remind them of the importance of worshipping God and celebrating the Holy Eucharist. We must do so with patience, understanding, and love, remembering that our purpose is not to condemn them but to help them grow closer to Jesus.

Here is another example: Suppose a member of our family becomes pregnant outside marriage, and someone suggests abortion as a solution. Should we remain silent and simply agree with that suggestion? No. As followers of Jesus, we are called to uphold the dignity and sacredness of human life while offering compassionate support to the mother.

We must accompany her with love, help her explore life-affirming options, and assure her that she does not have to face her difficult situation alone. Our Christian convictions must be expressed not only through the words we speak but also through the compassion and support we offer.

Indeed, being a true follower of Jesus requires courage. We cannot always remain silent just to avoid disagreements or preserve our relationships at the expense of our Christian convictions. There are times when we must speak up for what is right, even when our words are unpopular and our decisions are misunderstood.

However, we must also remember that correcting others does not mean forcing our beliefs on them or treating them as though we are better than they are. We, too, are sinners who need God's mercy, forgiveness, and guidance. Therefore, whenever we correct someone who is going astray, let us do so with humility, gentleness, and genuine concern for that person's spiritual well-being. Let our words be firm enough to uphold the truth but gentle enough to show the love of Jesus.

Sometimes, our efforts to guide others back to the right path may lead to disagreements, hurt feelings, or even temporary separation. When this happens, let us not immediately give up on them. We cannot force anyone to change, nor can we control the decisions of those we love. What we can do is continue to pray for them, set a good example, and patiently entrust them to God's loving care.

After all, our responsibility is not to win every argument but to remain faithful to Jesus. If others listen to our words, let us rejoice and continue encouraging them. If they refuse to listen, let us remain patient and continue loving them without compromising the truth. Sometimes, the seed of faith we plant today may take a long time to grow, but we must never underestimate what God's grace can accomplish in a person's heart.

Let us remember that following Jesus is not always the easiest path, but it is always a call to love, truth, and faithfulness. He does not call us to create unnecessary divisions; He calls us to remain faithful to the truth even when that faithfulness exposes differences between us and the people we love.

And so, when we are faced with a choice between pleasing others and standing for what is right, will we have the courage to remain faithful to Jesus, speaking the truth with love, showing compassion to those who disagree with us, and trusting God to touch the hearts of those we cannot change?— Marino J. Dasmarinas