Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 24, 2019
Jesus said to his disciples, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!
“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; father will be divided 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 mother-in-law.”
I recently began studying Lay Ministry at Creighton University, while working with their undergrads as a part-time staff in Campus Ministry. I am quickly learning about the Jesuits and various Ignatian prayer practices, including several forms of imaginative prayer. I was really struggling to connect with Jesus’s message in this gospel, so I decided to sit with the text and imagine myself in dialogue with Jesus. In that conversation, Jesus invited me to think about the division he speaks of in the gospel through a more familiar lens: college football.
In September 2022, Notre Dame is scheduled to open the season on the road against Ohio State. What a nightmare. For the past three years, I have been dating my best friend. The only problem: she grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State. (Jesus might as well add girlfriend divided against boyfriend to his list.) Yet, I know there is no one in the world with whom I would rather watch that game.
Although college football can be a source of bitter rivalry and fierce competition, the wonderful irony is that it brings people together in a way that few facets of our society can. Of course, the division that Jesus talks about runs much deeper than sports allegiances. The division he brings is the division between standing up for the kingdom of God or standing opposed to it. Nevertheless, Jesus’s message resonates with my experience of college football. In a beautifully paradoxical way, by igniting a fire in us that risks division, Jesus has invited us to recognize our unity in him, in pursuit of the kingdom of God.
Using football to understand Jesus merely scratches the surface of the depth of today’s gospel message. However, Jesus continues to amaze me with his ability and willingness to meet us exactly where we are, revealing himself and inviting us to a deeper understanding, on our own terms.
I consider it both a cheer and a prayer when I say, “Go Irish! Beat Buckeyes!”
Prayer
Father all-powerful, you sent the Holy Spirit into the world to set our hearts on fire. May the grace we receive through your Spirit help us to heal the divisions that separate us from our brothers and sisters. Help us to be zealous advocates of your undying love for humanity, so that all people will work to make you known, loved, and served. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Anthony Mary Claret led a colorful life as a popular preacher in Spain and Archbishop of Cuba, even surviving an assassination attempt and then pleading for the life of his attacker.
Anthony was born in Spain in 1807, the son of a weaver. He grew up practicing his father’s trade, and studied Latin and printing in his spare time. At the age of 22, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1835.
He had a desire to serve in the foreign missions, but his health failed and he was encouraged to focus his efforts on evangelizing the people of his native Spain. He began to preach parish missions and give retreats throughout his home region.
His zeal inspired other priests. He gathered a number together and established a new religious order, the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who are now known as Claretians. The order spread through Spain and beyond.
Soon after this success, he was appointed Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. It was difficult work reforming the Church in Cuba, which had fallen into disorder, and he encountered deep resistance. In fact, on several occasions, he was nearly assassinated.
In one case, a man seriously wounded Anthony because he blamed him for the loss of his mistress, who had converted her life and left him. Anthony interceded for the man in court, however, and saved him from a death sentence.
In 1857, Anthony returned to Spain to serve the queen. He refused to reside in the court, however, and spent as much time as he could preaching to ordinary people and spreading good reading literature throughout his home region. He is responsible for founding Barcelona’s Libreria Religiosa, now known as the Claret Library, which played a large role in preserving and enhancing Catholic culture in Spain.
Anthony preached 10,000 homilies and published more than 200 books or pamphlets to teach the faith. While in charge of an institution of higher education, he established science laboratories, a museum of natural history, as well as schools of music and languages.
Beyond his impressive intellect, Anthony gave his heart to God. As he grew in holiness, he was given the gifts of prophecy and healing, and his prayer often placed him in ecstasy and rapture.
At the end of his life, he was exiled with the queen to Rome. He did not cease his ministry, however, and he attended the first Vatican council and helped to define the teaching of papal infallibility. He died on this date in 1870.
St. Anthony Mary Claret is patron saint of those who work with textiles and in the Catholic press. His relics rest in the Basilica reliquary chapel.
St. Anthony Mary Claret, you supported the Catholic press and are the spiritual father of Cuba—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anthony Mary Claret is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 4, 2024.