OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF ST JOHN CAPISTRANO, THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 23, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on 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; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

REFLECTION

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

This Gospel passage is difficult for me. You see, most of my life I have believed that peace on earth can be established.

But...Yes...Since the beginning of time there have been earthly and human conflicts. Fighting for power, oil, land, territories, and riches. The poor, the marginalized, the starving and the abused will be part of our human strife.

Choosing Jesus will indeed bring us true peace filled with love, trust and hope but yet there still will be disruption, complacency, division, brokenness and injustice. The Holy Spirit purifies and transforms lives and hearts. His fire will burn away egoism, lukewarmness and indifference. Will we welcome the Holy Spirit and choose purity, love and share with all?

St John Capistrano, nicknamed "The Soldier Saint", at the age of 70 led a victorious crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456. St John is known as the patron saint of military chaplains. The chaplains provide spiritual care, facilitate, advise and look out for the needs of the soldiers. They are morally and spiritually helping them in the battlefield of life.

The peace that I seek is not the absence of conflict (though in a perfect world that would be great!.). Knowing that Jesus Christ daily walks with me in my own battlefield of life, reassures me that His Kingdom is ongoing.

God Bless You