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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.
R./ 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.
Jesus said to his disciples, "I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled; but I have a baptism to undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over!
"Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided; three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Dear Friends:
This Gospel presents us with some striking words of Jesus that seem to contrast with the image of peace and unity that we often associate with his message. Jesus speaks to us of “setting the world on fire” and of a “division” that will affect even families. To understand this passage, we must remember that Jesus is not speaking of a division out of hatred or selfish conflict, but of the division that occurs when his radical message demands a clear and decisive choice.
The “fire” to which Jesus refers is the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fervor of love and zeal for the kingdom of God. This fire purifies, transforms, and ignites hearts in the mission of bringing the light of Christ to the world. Jesus wants this fire to burn already, because he knows that his message cannot leave us indifferent; he challenges us to take a stand, to live in a different way, which on many occasions provokes incomprehension or rejection, even among those closest to us.
The reference to “division” does not mean that Jesus wants to create discord, but that his message demands a commitment that often breaks with the values and traditions of the world. Those who follow Christ must be willing to face the tensions that arise when the demands of the Gospel meet human expectations, even within the family. Faith in Christ calls us to a deeper and more authentic love, but it also demands of us the courage to stand up for the truth, even when it provokes opposition.
In the memory of St. Anthony Mary Claret, this Gospel takes on a special meaning. Filled with the fire of the Spirit and the love of God, Claret dedicated his life to the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. In his work he faced many difficulties, misunderstandings and persecutions. He preached a message that challenged the conformism and religious indifference of his time and sometimes caused divisions. In the Claretian Family, the source of his missionary inspiration continues to resound: “Fall in love with Jesus Christ and your neighbor, and you will understand everything and do more than I do”.
Like St. Anthony Mary Claret, we too are called to be bearers of the Good News of the Gospel. We should not fear the conflicts and trials that may arise in our following of Jesus. He warns us that following him will not always be easy, but the promise is immense: a renewed life and a more human and fraternal world. With the same passion and courage of Claret, may we know how to live our mission with dedication, being witnesses of the Kingdom and signs of hope in every place where we find ourselves.
Edgardo Guzmán, CMF
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you have set us free in Christ,
free from our selfishness,
free from shame and fear,
free for life and service.
God, accept our thanks for this free gift.
Give us the strength, day after day,
to grow in this liberty
and to help our little or large world
to attain the same freedom
from sin and its consequences:
from injustice, suffering, and oppression.
One day may we be completely free
in your eternal home,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Overwhelmed by the beauty and responsibility of his ministry and of the Christian life, the author of Ephesians prays that the riches of the Christian life may be found in those who believe. Then, he give thanks and praise to the heavenly Father. May this prayer also be ours.
Gospel Introduction
Today our Lord confronts us with the question: How fiery is your love and your faith? Can our faith accept contradiction and ridicule without letting us be reduced to silence? Perhaps we are resigned to the evil in us and in the world and fail to stand up for what is right and good. If our love for the Lord and people is strong enough, we do not tolerate an easy peace that puts our conscience to sleep. Let the fire of the Spirit burn in us.
General Intercessions
- Jesus, set your Church afire with the flame of a deep concern to bring your good news to all. May the gospel dialogue with the world and with its aspirations and needs, we pray:
- Jesus, give the warmth of your strength to all who have to pass through the fire of suffering, failure and discrimination and keep them from discouragement, we pray:
- Jesus, light your fire again in the hearts of those whose faith has become lukewarm or who have lost the way to you, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
these gifts of bread and wine
are humble offerings
but they stand for all the love
of which we are capable.
Bring them to life and let them become
the living sign of your love for people,
your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him fill our banal words
with a spirit of loving service springing from the heart,
and our inept gestures of love for one another
with the wholeness and fullness
of the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God, our Father,
your Son came to bring fire on earth;
he himself passed through the fire of life.
Make us realize, Lord, and accept
that we may not seek peace at any cost.
Give us the fire of your Spirit
that we may not seek security
in the self-contentment of the status quo,
but go and commit ourselves
like Jesus, your Son and our Lord.
Blessing
Too often the fire of faith and love is easily extinguished in us. We are not heroes, or perhaps only rarely. It is easier to be left in peace. May God preserve us from a guilty peace and keep the fire of faith and love alive in us, and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
