Lectionary: 476
Reading 1
eph 3:14-21
Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm
ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Gospel
lk 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
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
"I kneel before the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name." –Ephesians 3:14-15
Jesus has "come to light a fire on the earth" (Lk 12:49). He begins this by dismantling families held together by factors not according to His will (see Lk 12:51ff). For example, many marriages and families stay together because of fears, addictions, finances, or confusion. Under such circumstances, these families will never be what God wants them to be. Therefore, Jesus will dismantle these families and then reunite them in love, self-sacrifice, holiness, and peace. In this way, He will light a fire to purify and renew the face of the earth (see Ps 104:30).
Do you have mixed motives in your relations with your family members? Is your family staying together in pure love, or are there other factors? Cooperate with Jesus as He picks apart any sins, selfishness, or self-deception in your family. Then ask Jesus to give to your family:
"gifts in keeping with the riches of His glory" (Eph 3:16),interior strength "through the working of His Spirit" (Eph 3:16),His indwelling (Eph 3:17), andcharity as its "root and foundation" (Eph 3:17).
After being dismantled and re-assembled by Jesus, you and your family "will be able to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God Himself" (Eph 3:18-19).
PRAYER: Father, make our families holy by Your standards.
PROMISE: "To Him Whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine – to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end. Amen." –Eph 3:20-21
PRAISE: St. John was governor of his city. He was captured and imprisoned during a battle. While in prison, he gave his life to Jesus, and when released, he became a priest.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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