August 18, 2013: 20th Sunday in ordinary time

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin also had to go through very tough situations to do God’s loving work. (This picture is one of Mother Theodore dioramas which are displayed at Providence Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. Original title/caption: Mother Theodore Leads Her Mission Band Through the Dense Woods To the Feet of the Master. Journey’s End! Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, October 22, 1840. The First Chapel of the Sisters of Providence in America.)

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.” (Luke 12: 49-53)

Being a loving person and doing the right thing can sometimes be difficult and painful, but Jesus says that this is the only way we will truly be peaceful within ourselves.
In this week’s gospel Jesus uses shocking examples to remind us to always try to do the most loving thing, even if what we choose is not admired by those we care about.

Action:

This week make a conscious effort to be a loving person even though your action does not seem popular to you.