You think you have it bad trying to hand on difficult news. Think about the poor prophets. Most of them were mocked, tortured, or even killed for calling people to task for not following the commands of the Lord. They came to call God’s people to something greater and received hate and misery and death for doing their work. We hear this and think, how terrible?! BUT we also get worked up, angry, or even leave when the priests call us to task. We must open our hearts to receive the challenges of the Lord to call us to something more.
Jesus challenges us greatly this weekend. It isn’t the words we usually expect from Jesus. We must remember not to dumb down or make Jesus nicey nicey. He challenges us in many differing ways. Today he tells us that He comes to bring division. This division is very challenging. We all experience this division in some way. If you follow Jesus, you know that there are many that don’t.
Jesus told us this would be difficult. We feel this division. We pray for their conversion. We never cease to be witnesses to the joy of Christ. Jesus tells us He has come to set the world on fire. He intends to do just that with you. We enter into the life of Christ in baptism, taking up the cross, and being filled with the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation. This indwelling of the Spirit in God’s people can truly set the world on fire, and it can end division.
St. Catherina of Siena is well known for a statement on this exact reality: “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” Allow the Holy Spirit to burn brightly in you.
As we look to beginning the new school year, we are very excited as a parish community for this new year. We love these kiddos in our school. We love forming them to be the disciples Jesus calls them to be. Thank you for your help in making this possible. We are eager to begin another year! Keep the students, the teachers, staff, and parents in your prayers as we begin again!
St. Francis Solanus, pray for us!
Fr. Arisman