When Jesus says He came to divide families, people might stop listening. But Jesus is not saying it is His desire for families to be split up, but rather that we cannot take a stand against sin and expect those attached to sin will love us for it. Calling out sin got Jeremiah stuck at the bottom of the well! The second reading gives us a clue as to how to wage war on sin: start with your own. Do not declare war on yourself as sinner, as that does tremendous damage. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and resist your own sinfulness, running the race of faith that God has asked of you. It is God’s desire that our redemption be complete, not that we suffer, even though it is painful to let go of the sin we use to protect ourselves.
For peace to be the fruit of letting go of our sinfulness, we pray to the Lord.
Prayer: Forgiving God, show us how to love ourselves while we let go of the sin we have learned to use as faulty protection for our wounds. Heal us, that peace might find us and reconcile us to you and to each other. Amen.
(taken from Facebook page of Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary)
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