“DO YOU THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO GIVE PEACE ON EARTH?" In this Sunday's Gospel (Luke 12:49-53) there is an expression of Jesus that always attracts our attention and needs to be properly understood. While he is on his way to Jerusalem, where death on a cross awaits him, Christ asked his disciples: "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division". And he adds: "[H]enceforth in one house there will be five 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 her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Lk 12: 51-53). Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of Christ's Gospel knows that it is a message of peace par excellence; as St Paul wrote, Jesus himself "is our peace" (Eph 2: 14), the One who died and rose in order to pull down the wall of enmity and inaugurate the Kingdom of God which is love, joy and peace. So how can his words be explained? To what was the Lord referring when he said he had come - according to St Luke's version - to bring "division" or—according to St Matthew's—the "sword" (Mt 10: 34)? Christ's words mean that the peace he came to bring us is not synonymous with the mere absence of conflicts. On the contrary, Jesus' peace is the result of a constant battle against evil. The fight that Jesus is determined to support is not against human beings or human powers, but against Satan, the enemy of God and man. Anyone who desires to resist this enemy by remaining faithful to God and to good, must necessarily confront misunderstandings and sometimes real persecutions. All, therefore, who intend to follow Jesus and to commit themselves without compromise to the truth, must know that they will encounter opposition and that in spite of themselves they will become a sign of division between people, even in their own families. In fact, love for one's parents is a holy commandment, but to be lived authentically it can never take precedence over love for God and love for Christ. Thus, following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, in accordance with St Francis of Assisi's famous words, Christians become "instruments of peace"; not of a peace that is inconsistent and only apparent but one that is real, pursued with courage and tenacity in the daily commitment to overcome evil with good (cf. Rom 12: 21) and paying in person the price that this entails. —POPE BENEDICT XVI—ANGELUS, 19 August 2007
ADORATION & CONFESSIONS: First Sunday of each month from 10am-10:50am.
Lector schedule: August 14: Tina/Kelly August 21: Tanya/Karen
RELIGIOUS ED & SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION: Is your child in need of religious education or sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion or Confirmation? Contact Tanya Stinson at tanya.l.stinson@gmail.com to be on our list for the coming fall.
ADULT DISCIPLES: FAITH, STUDY, & DISCUSSION: To be a “disciple” means lifelong growth in learning. Challenge yourself to grow in your knowledge and love of our Lord in the support of a believing community. Join us as we continue to view and discuss Bishop Barron’s “Catholicism” Series with a simple meal together!
PRAYER LIST: Please pray for our fellow Parishioners who are unable attend Mass: Ina Freeman, Sue Gilbert, Carla Sovocool, Art Sovocool, Katie Smith, John Smith, & Mary Weirich. If you would like your name added to this list, please email StGeorge@stauva.org.
St. George Parishioners, contact StGeorge@stauva.org to have Mass offered for your intentions.