They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and
daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-inlaw, and daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law.”
Reflect:
St. Anthony Mary Claret, founder of the congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart
(Claretians), gave a definition that he wanted his spiritual sons to grow into. It begins thus: “A son
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with charity who spreads its flames wherever
he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God’s
love….” This is the kind of fire that Jesus longs to ignite the world with. And this fire produces two
results: it sets us afire with love for God and charity for our fellow human beings. This fire is possible
only when we understand “the width, the length, the height, and the depth” of the love Christ has for
us, as Paul reminds the Ephesians. As and when that happens, God becomes our priority, over and
above all human relations. This understanding and fire are not of our making; it is the gift of the Spirit,
for which we must incessantly pray.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022