The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 19, 2001
The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10
Psalm 40:2-4,18
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on today's Scripture:
"I have come to cast fire upon the earth...." (Luke 12:49)
What is this fire that Christ came to earth to set? It is a purifying
fire, the very love and truth of God, the only means of cleansing
human hearts of sin's corruption and, in consequence, leading the
world to salvation. If the solution to humanity's problems is given
us by Christ, why has His fire failed to cleanse all hearts of sin
and instead, as He predicted, created greater contention? The basic
reason is our God-given free will, our ability to choose either good
or evil.
The question then becomes: Why has God given us a gift that
contributes to human misery? The reply is that without free will we
would be a race of robots programmed to act in a fixed way, unable to
think, feel or create. We could never become loving, responsible and
moral beings capable of establishing an intimate relationship with
God; for we would not have been created in His image. Free will
enables us to become children of God through our freely choosing to
follow His laws that are derived from His perfect love for us. If all
chose to live in the love and truth revealed by Christ, we would
finally enjoy peace in this world.
The divisions caused by Christ's fire result from the conflict
between what prevails in individual human hearts -- God's Holy Spirit
or the world's spirit, Satan, with his lies, hatred, greed and
self-seeking. Good or evil, the choice with its far-reaching
consequences to ourselves and others is in our hands..
Ever-loving Father,
may we grasp Your outstretched hand
to receive the gift of faith,
that Your truth and love may burn brightly
in every human heart. Amen.
Marie L. Bocko ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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