Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Intention: That God’s peace and wisdom will touch the hearts of all whose lives are ruled by misunderstanding, anger, or fear.
Today’s 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.”
From the Tenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Consider that the purpose of the coming of the Son of God into this world was to destroy sin. This must also be the main purpose of the establishment of the Christian Schools and, therefore, the first object of your zeal. It must lead you to allow nothing in the children under your guidance that could displease God. If you observe in them something that offends God, you must immediately do all that you are able to remedy the problem.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son asked to us to understand that we would have to make choices between sinfulness and salvation, and that this would not be easy for us. Not all of us see the real world around us, and some would prefer not to accept your truth. Help us to summon the courage to say yes your will, and to choose first your Kingdom in all that we do. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.