Stand your ground!

Author: Chrisma C. Bangaoil
Stand firm in our commitment to goodness  
Reflection Date: October 24, 2024 Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 12:49-53

How cruel it is to hear Jesus talking about causing division even among families! The Gospel seems to be the opposite of the first reading which speaks about love and the fullness of God. How can a God so full of love be speaking of division?

It is not the only time that Jesus speaks of division. He has always been clear about the division between good and evil. Jesus speaks of the need to draw the line between what is good and evil, what is of God and what is not. 

So those who choose evil voluntarily separate themselves from those who choose to love God and do good. A priest friend always tells me that sin bears its own consequence, that is, separation from God.

Indeed, when we fail to do God’s will, it isn’t God who punishes us. When we sin, we are automatically choosing to be separated from God. We choose to live apart from God. We choose to live in darkness. In so doing, we bring punishment unto ourselves.

We are presented with choices each day. We are always confronted with ‘to be or not to be’, ‘to do or not to do’ options. What makes it difficult to choose is when we are not connected with Christ. It is by God’s grace that we are able to be good and to do good. When we are not under God’s grace, the evil choice becomes too attractive to resist. 

Call to Action for Catholic Living: May we always receive the grace to stand firm our ground to be good and to do good despite all the pressures around us to be and to do otherwise.