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.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
To me this gospel shows an extremely human and vulnerable side of Jesus. It lets us know that he went through all of the trials and tribulations that we all go through on a daily basis. Maybe we are not always in the correct frame of mind due to outside circumstances (family health, relationship problems, financial difficulties, etc.) when we walk in the door to work. But these distractions must fall to the wayside in order for us to remain focused and put forth our best effort for the boys in our care. All of us, Jesus included, needed to be reminded that to be our best we must rely on trusted friends and coworkers.
During difficult times, attitudes must be adjusted in order for positive performance to prevail. He spoke to his disciples. We speak to those people that help change our frame of thinking. People around us that are invaluable when we are at our worst emotionally. We have been put in charge of fragile individuals and must always put ourselves in the best frame of mind to help guide them. This is of the utmost importance. If Jesus himself can vent verbally because things were bothering him, how easy is it for us to ask for help when we need it most?
Mr. Greg Fucile
Ocean Tides – Narragansett, RI
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.