The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Luke 12:49-53

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Scripture reveals that Christ, the Son of Man, frequently served as a role model for us. For example, we see Christ speaking with the woman at the well, when men would not normally do so. He was comfortable embracing the sick, listening to the widow, and advocating for children. Today's gospel gives us another look at the behavior of Christ that we might try to follow.

Christ spoke of His enthusiasm, His motivation to move ahead with the mission given Him by our Father in heaven. He states "I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish that it were already blazing." (Luke 12:49) How does that phrase compare with our own level of enthusiasm as Christians who cooperate in the building up of the kingdom?

The first reading might give us some motivators. There are some awesome phrases used to describe us, the followers of Christ. Two especially are significant. They are "I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth is named . . . rooted and grounded in love." (see Ephesians 3:14, 17) Would they not serve as some stimulus?

Think about it.

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)