29th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Eph 3:14-21
Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones 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. Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel: Lk 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.”
KNOWLEDGE SURPASSING ALL KNOWLEDGE: Paul in the first reading tells us that we must have a better understanding about Christ and what is important to us as Christians. For Christ to dwell in our hearts it has to be through faith and been rooted and grounded in love. Paul considers knowing Christ and sharing in his suffering and resurrection as the only thing important for him. According to Paul of the Cross whose feast we celebrate today, God is found in the Passion of Christ. He said, “It is an excellent and holy practice to call to mind and meditate on our Lord’s Passion, since it is by this path that we shall arrive at union with God. In this, the holiest of all schools, true wisdom is learned, for it was there that all the saints became wise.” The Passionists promote the love of God revealed in the Passion of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, may we seek you above all things.
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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL WITH AN IDEAL: Belief in Jesus brings with it joy, but also strife, tension and discord in families. Jesus speaks of the turmoil that he is to face. His words are not comforting because they show that His followers will experience the same. The words are very clear that we are not waiting for peace but war. There will be division and tension. The household itself is transformed into a war zone for the reason of faith in Jesus. Every person is up in arms against the other. There are reasons for fight and brawl, with no tranquility. Jesus is an ideal that will awaken people to act. When we are honest with our belief, we remain active. Let us be ready for this time and act to defend our faith.
PRAYER: God our Father, may our faith yield courage in us, so that we may stand for you every day of our life.
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EVANGELICAL FREEDOM: Being disciples of Jesus and living the Gospel is a journey towards freedom. This freedom is can misunderstood as living without limitations or doing what one pleases. But the deeper understanding of freedom ability to opt for life no matter what the cost or the consequences are. He is no longer moved by temporal desires and the need to please others with his actions or decisions. The real free person knows what he has to do and is free to do it despite difficulties or challenges. Living the Gospel to the full can be done only in freedom. Radical living of the Gospel entails conflicts and struggles. In freedom we have the power to opt for the Gospel and meet the demands of it.
DAILY GOSPEL 