the 20th sunday in ordinary time august 18, 2013 …and how i wish it were burning already

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The 20 th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 18, 2013 …and how I wish it were burning already “I came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it was burning already…” These are most strange words to hear from the Prince of Peace! Whatever could Jesus have meant? In this Gospel Jesus speaks of conflict rather than peace; contention rather than harmony. It does not seem like him at all. Why does he wish the world were burning already? The fire that Jesus brings is his word and his love for the Father, as well as his love for all humankind. This is the fire that he wishes to ignite among us. He wants the whole world to be on fire with love for God and one another. Once again he is telling us that he wants us to be totally committed to him and to his call to love as he loves us. But Jesus knows that this is not an easy mission. He knows that it will bring discord between those who choose to follow it and those who reject him. “Fathers against sons, mothers against daughters”; certainly in his day those who chose to be his disciples would have experienced opposition in their homes and families. There would have been divisions between family members and between generations. These divisions can still exist today. The message of Jesus can still bring division. Today, his message is at odds with many elements of contemporary culture. The message of Jesus is directly opposed to the “me” generation. There is no room in Jesus’ teaching for a culture of acquisition where “what I want is more important than the needs of my family, my neighbour or my world.” When I love as Jesus loves then the needs of the other are more important than my wants or desires. If I am on fire with the love of Jesus, then I seek only what is good for the other and not just what I can get from them. The fire that Jesus wishes to ignite in our world is even more than just a love that transforms us as individuals; it is a love that, through us, can change the world. But the world resists change. In our world, just as in Jesus time, his way of living can be contrary to many of the values of our friends, employers, or family members. To choose Jesus’ path is to accept that not everyone will agree with it and some will even oppose it. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus understood this. He promised us that he will be with us always “even unto the end of the world…” He nourishes us in the Eucharist and guides us with his Holy Spirit. His fire is burning in the world. It burns in us, if we open ourselves to it. This is Jesus’ prayer in this Gospel. Are we the answer? Deacon Bernie As a way of launching our new pastoral year Fr. Guylain Prince, a dynamic Franciscan preacher and biblical scholar, will be leading our community on a retreat day Saturday, September 21 st . Please mark your calendars

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7/27/2019 The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 18, 2013 …and how I wish it were burning already

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-20th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-august-18-2013-and-how-i-wish-it-were 1/2

The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 18, 2013

…and how I wish it were burning already 

“I came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it was burning already…”

These are most strange words to hear from the Prince of Peace! Whatever could Jesus have meant? In th

Gospel Jesus speaks of conflict rather than peace; contention rather than harmony. It does not seem likhim at all. Why does he wish the world were burning already?

The fire that Jesus brings is his word and his love for the Father, as well as his love for all humankind. Th

is the fire that he wishes to ignite among us. He wants the whole world to be on fire with love for God an

one another. Once again he is telling us that he wants us to be totally committed to him and to his call t

love as he loves us.

But Jesus knows that this is not an easy mission. He knows that it will bring discord between those wh

choose to follow it and those who reject him. “Fathers against sons, mothers against daughters”; certain

in his day those who chose to be his disciples would have experienced opposition in their homes an

families. There would have been divisions between family members and between generations. Thes

divisions can still exist today.

The message of Jesus can still bring division. Today, his message is at odds with many elements

contemporary culture. The message of Jesus is directly opposed to the “me” generation. There is no room

in Jesus’ teaching for a culture of acquisition where “what I want is more important than the needs of m

family, my neighbour or my world.”

When I love as Jesus loves then the needs of the other are more important than my wants or desires. If

am on fire with the love of Jesus, then I seek only what is good for the other and not just what I can g

from them. The fire that Jesus wishes to ignite in our world is even more than just a love that transformus as individuals; it is a love that, through us, can change the world.

But the world resists change. In our world, just as in Jesus time, his way of living can be contrary to man

of the values of our friends, employers, or family members. To choose Jesus’ path is to accept that no

everyone will agree with it and some will even oppose it. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus understoo

this. He promised us that he will be with us always “even unto the end of the world…” He nourishes us

the Eucharist and guides us with his Holy Spirit.

His fire is burning in the world. It burns in us, if we open ourselves to it. This is Jesus’ prayer in this Gospe

Are we the answer?

Deacon Bernie 

As a way of launching our new pastoral year Fr. Guylain Prince, a dynamic Franciscan preacher and biblic

scholar, will be leading our community on a retreat day Saturday, September 21st. Please mark yo

calendars

7/27/2019 The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 18, 2013 …and how I wish it were burning already

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-20th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-august-18-2013-and-how-i-wish-it-were 2/2

Mass Intentions: August 10-18, 2013

August 10, 2013 Saturday, St. Laurence4:00 In Loving Mem ory

Mike Kilbertus, The Deceased Members Of The

Charles J. McDonald Family, Gerry McLaughlin ,

 Alessandro Palladini, Dorothy Moore, Franco Spurio,

 Aida & Vincenzo Polisenta, Terri Winslade

August 11, 2013 The 19th Sunday in

Ordinary Time8:30 Mary McNichol Margaret McLaughlin

11:00 Giacomo Fiori Wife Berardina & Family 

August 12, 2013 Monday, Weekday8:00 Charlie Hindley Gary Rooney 

August 13, 2013 Tuesday, Weekday8:00  Anne O’Brien Kay O’Brien

August 14, 2013 Wednesday, St Maximilian

Kolbe

8:00 Rosa Guoiani Arnold Guoiani

August 15, 2013 Thursday, The

Assumption Of The

Blessed Virgin Mary8:00 Michele Pistilli The Piccolino Family 

August 16, 2013 Friday, Weekday8:00 Elene Pierantozi Ignazio Mattei

August 17, 2013 Saturday,

4:00 Ermando Giuseppe

Nudo

 Wife Elvira Nudo

August 18, 2013 The 20th Sunday in

Ordinary Time8:30 In Loving Mem ory:

Isa Mazzella, Luigi Paliotti, Luigina Ciccarelli,

Cuthbert Douglas, Edgaro O. Poce, Alba Salvati

11:00 Vincenzo Saluzzi Maddalena Saluzzi & Family 

 Your Generosity… Thank you for your on-going support of our parish…

Last weekend’s collection was $2,717.95

Adult Faith Enrichment

Upcoming events

Contemplative Prayer Group

St. Monica’s Contemplative Prayer Groupmeets every Tuesday evening at 7 PM inthe parish rectory. After listening to a talk

on the spiritual journey, we meditatetogether for up to half an hour. Oumeetings will resume in September. Please

 join us! For information, please contactAudrey Booth or Pat Brabant through theparish office.

See the posters next week for more

information.

FR.RAYMOND LAFONTAINE & WARDENS

OF THE FABRIQUE OF ST. MONICA'S

…wish to thank our Sponsors.

Please note that our Printers Imprimerie

Drouin Inc will be closing at the end of

August. The last publication from their office

will be Sunday September 1st.

We wish to thank Mr. Jacques and his team

at Imprimerie Drouin for their years o

service, and assure our current advertisers

that we are working diligently to continue

the Parish bulletin service. One of ourWardens will follow up with your file, and

Imprimerie Drouin will refund any unused

portion of your current contract. New

Advertisers can contact one of the Wardens

listed on the front of the bulletin cover o

call the Parish office.

Sincerely

 Fr. Raymond Lafontain

& Wardens of the Fabrique of St. Monica's

AITH FIRST REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

It may still be possible to register your child for this year’s Faith First classes, even though registration closed onAugust 15th, however you should do so as soon as possible to have a place.

Faith First registration forms for the 2013-14 season are available at the entrances of the church, church hall andrectory. All new as well as returning students must fill out a form, and return it to the rectory to guarantee a spotThe cost of the program is $70 for one child, $95 for 2 children and $110 for 3 or more. Please note that yourchild will not be denied access to the program if you are unable to pay the fee. For further information, pleasecontact Jennie Parsons-Armstrong at (514) 481-0267 or by email at  [email protected] .