Blazing
Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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."
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
What does Jesus mean by this? Is He against peace and against the family? Certainly not. Jesus is the champion of families and the only way to true peace. However, Jesus is against us choosing peace and comfort over the Christian life. Jesus would rather see human family relationships suffer than see people reject the Faith just to keep tension out of their family.
We Christians often “water-down” Christianity so that we don’t have to choose between Christ and our finances, our reputation, our friendships, or our family peace. Consider how much we love comfort and ease. What Christ is telling us is that if any of these come between us and Him, we must choose. True Christianity can’t be a compromise. Does our love for comfort and ease compromise our faithfulness to Christ?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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