DAILY- HOMILY

20 October 2016

Thursday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Paul of the Cross, Priest

Green. 

Eph 3:14 – 21 / Lk 12: 49 – 53. 

An Italian, St. Paul of the Cross (1694 – 1775), devoted to the service of the poor and the sick and his great penances, founded the Congregation of the Passion (Passionists).

From the 1st Reading: Eph 3: 14 – 19

And now I kneel in the presence of the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth has received its name. May he strengthen in you the inner self through his Spirit, according to the riches of his glory; may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; may you be rooted and founded in love. All of this so that you may understand with all the holy ones the width, the length, the height and the depth – in a word, that you may know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled and reach the fullness of God

All of this so that you may understand with all the holy ones the width, the length, the height and the depth – in a word, that you may know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled and reach the fullness of God.

Gospel Reading: Lk 12:49 - 53 

Jesus said to his disciples, "I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled; but I have a baptism to undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over! 

"Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided; three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in- law against mother-in-law."

Reflection

We say that the Son of God became man to reconcile us with the Father, to bring peace to humankind and the world.  In the first reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians, Paul speaks about being at peace with God, of the love of God, of "the width, the length, the height and the depth – in a word, that you may know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled and reach the fullness of God." (Eph 3: 18 – 19)

And yet in the Gospel reading Jesus speaks of bringing fire, conflict and division: "I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled. . . Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Lk 12" 49, 51)

At the presentation of the Child Jesus the holy man Simeon had prophesied that "he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel, He shall stand as a sign of contradiction." (Lk 2: 34)

Is Jesus for peace? Or for conflict? We often hear that if we accept Jesus into our lives, we would be disturbed: "Pag tinanggap mo si Hesus, guguluhin niya ang buhay mo." Indeed, allowing Jesus into our lives will mean changes in our lives. The values he proposes are so different from the values prevalent around us. We can say that he prevents us from merely settling down. We are forced to discern what is right and what is wrong. We are forced to feel uncomfortable at the suffering and need of others. We are challenged to do and offer greater things for God.

In truth accepting Jesus is not to accept conflict and pain but the invitation to accept whatever would be to God's greater glory and the greater good of our neighbor.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Lester & Hazel Lim

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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