Oct 22 – Memorial for St. John Paul II
Karol Józef Wojtyla was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After his ordination to the priesthood and theological studies in Rome, he returned to his homeland and resumed various pastoral and academic tasks. He became first auxiliary bishop and, in 1964, Archbishop of Kraków and took part in the Second Vatican Council. On 16 October 1978 he was elected pope and took the name John Paul II. His exceptional apostolic zeal, particularly for families, young people and the sick, led him to numerous pastoral visits throughout the world. Among the many fruits which he has left as a heritage to the Church are above all his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches. In Rome on 2 April 2005, the eve of the Second Sunday of Easter (or of Divine Mercy), he departed peacefully in the Lord. He was canonized by Pope Francis on 27 April, the Second Sunday of Easter 2014.
- Universalis
Eph 3:14-21
Lk 12:49-53
“Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
True love, which seeks the good of another even at a personal cost, is neither sentimental nor superficial. It is rooted in truth, willing the good of the other for their sake and not merely for our own comfort or approval. Such love is demanding. Precisely because it is grounded in truth and guided by charity, it can expose what is wrong, confront what is unjust, and divide where people would rather preserve a false peace.
When we choose to live by truth and love, we must be prepared to stand apart from the crowd, even when that crowd includes those closest to us: our spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, friends and allies. Authentic discipleship does not guarantee acceptance. At times, it brings rejection, misunderstanding, gossip, exclusion and even persecution. Yet faithfulness to Christ is not measured by how many people approve of us, but by how faithfully we follow him.
Jesus never promised that discipleship would be easy or popular. In today’s Gospel, he declares: “Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Lk 12:51). These are challenging words. Christ is not advocating hostility or division for its own sake. Rather, his truth demands a response, and that response can create division when people choose opposing paths. The Gospel will inevitably challenge the values of a world that prizes self-interest, comfort, status and the pursuit of more.
As Christians, we are called to live counter-culturally. We must forgive those who wound us, show mercy when resentment seems justified, give generously even when giving costs us, and practise charity without exception. We must do good for our neighbours even when it is inconvenient, love our enemies, refuse revenge and resist the temptation to repay evil with evil. We are also called to embrace a spirit of poverty, trusting in God’s providence rather than relying exclusively on our own strength, possessions and self-sufficiency.
This is no easy road. It means walking against the wind and swimming against the current, day after day. It may cost us our reputation, relationships, comfort and even our sense of belonging. Yet the Psalmist reminds us that “The Lord fills the earth with his love” (Ps 33:5). We do not walk this difficult path unaided. God’s love sustains us, his grace strengthens us, and his faithfulness gives us reason to persevere.
Surrendering our lives to God may appear to mean surrendering our freedom. In truth, it is an invitation to use our freedom according to his wisdom and perfect will. We relinquish neither our dignity nor our responsibility; we relinquish the illusion that we know better than God. We may not win the world’s rat race of I, me and myself, but we can remain faithful to the race that truly matters.
As St Paul reminds us, God is able to ‘do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine’ (Eph 3:20). Our task is to trust him, to let his love shape our thoughts, words and deeds, and to remain steadfast when obedience feels lonely.
So, when faithfulness leaves us standing alone, let us remember that we are never truly alone. The saints and angels accompany us in the communion of heaven, and the Lord himself remains our strength and our hope. Our calling is not to win the world’s approval, but to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith.
To love as Christ loves is to dare to stand apart, trusting that even when the world turns away, God never does.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Susanah Cheok)
Prayer: Lord of all, King of heaven and earth, I surrender my life to you. You have complete dominion over me and all I have, which comes from you alone. Make of my life what you will. Reign in me, Lord, so that I may be fruitful and faithful till the very end. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for the daily reminder that I never walk alone. You are always there beside me. You never give up on me. You give me angels and saints to guide me, your mother to intercede for me, and the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into me – gifting me wisdom, understanding, fortitude, piety, knowledge, counsel and fear of the Lord. Amen.oly HhH
Leave a Reply