Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For all who seek roles of leadership and influence in our society, that their hearts and minds will be open to God’s gifts of wisdom and compassion.
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 Eighth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Consider that because you must work in your ministry for the building of the Church on the foundation which has been laid by the holy Apostles, by the instruction you are giving to the children whom God has entrusted to your care and who are entering into the construction of this building, you must do your work as the Apostles carried out their ministry.
As told in the Acts of the Apostles, every day, both in the Temple and in homes, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus Christ. It followed that every day the Lord increased the number of faithful and the union of those who were being saved.
The zeal that the holy Apostles had to announce the teaching of Jesus Christ caused the number of disciples to increase, so they chose seven deacons to distribute alms to the faithful and take care of their other needs, so greatly did these holy Apostles fear to encounter any obstacles able to distract them from preaching the word of God.
Prayer
Eternal Father, living the Gospel is not always easy. There are times when we have to sacrifice being comfortable and risk being misunderstood or rejected by people who matter to us. Help us always to know what we are called to do and who we are called to be. Grant us the integrity to do the right thing, especially in the face of opposition. May we always be your ambassadors to those around us, especially to those who you have entrusted to our care. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.