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Our Parish
Our Mission & Patron
Parish History
Join our Parish
Bulletins
Latest News
Catholic Faith Resources
Calendar
Blog
Giving
Contact Us
Stewardship
Newsletters
Event Form
Love One Another Capital Campaign 2023
Community Life
Fish Fry
Donut Sundays
Meet the Team
Pastoral Staff
Pastoral Council
Finance Council
Committees
Careers
Liturgy & Sacraments
Mass Times
Pray With Us
Funerals & Cemetery
Sacraments
Baptism
Eucharist
Reconciliation
Confirmation
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage
Holy Orders
Become Catholic
Faith Formation
Contact Faith Formation
Catholic Social Teaching
Adult Formation
Lent Resources
2023
Alpha
Knights of Columbus
Men's Group
Women's Group
Small Groups
RCIA: Adult Sacraments
Student Formation
Busy Bees & Parents @ the Playground
Registration Information
Family Class
Pre K- 1st Grade: CGS
Grades 2-5
Middle School
High School
Ministries
Get Involved
Outreach Ministry
Console the Sick
Feed the Hungry
Clothe the Naked
Comfort the Mourning
Strengthen Families
Sister Parishes
Liturgical Ministry
Music Ministry
Minister at Mass
Console the Sick
Ready the Church
Hospitality
August 18, 2019
Our Parish
August
15
,
2019
The Prince of Peace wants to set the world on fire? This Sunday's Gospel can sound more intense than what we may be accustomed to. It's a passage of contradictions. Jesus so clearly prays for unity, yet here he speaks of division. Why would our God who comes as an offering of love speak so frankly about causing relationships to be torn apart?
The sobering truth is that Jesus is divisive. We see this through-out the Gospels, as the Pharisees critique him, the Romans condemn him, and not everyone in the crowd is enthusiastic about his words. Jesus has not come for the purpose of dividing, but what he does is so radical that it upends the status quo. And it doesn't end with his preaching and miracles! "There is a baptism with which I must be baptized." Jesus isn't talking about his baptism at the Jordan River, which has already occurred, but the passing through the waters of death on the Cross and rising again to new life in the resurrection. This is divisive stuff! Christ's spiritual fire turned the "fathers" - the Jewish people and Pharisees - against the "sons" - the common people. Not every-one wants the Gospel Jesus is preaching. Not everyone wants to be set on fire with the desire to love others. Some prefer to put on a warm sweater and curl up in front of the TV.
In living and loving as Jesus did, we, too, might ruffle some feathers. In disciplining our teenage child for sneaking out, we may cause some division (temporarily, we hope!). In standing up to gossip and the spread of cruel rumors in our workplace, we might cause division. In emphasizing the dignity of both the desperate mother and the unborn child, we might cause division. Not everyone wants the Gospel Jesus is preaching. Not everyone wants the Gospel we are invited to live. But that's no excuse not to live it.
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