Feast of Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin

Good morning. Today’s Gospel is hardly what we’ve come to expect from Jesus. It is somewhat brutal and in your face. He is rather harsh and plainly says we are either with Him or against Him. He says that He has come to bring division, division even amongst family members. We are told in today’s Gospel that some will oppose Him, even family members, and this will cause division if we choose to follow Him. The unfortunate part of all this is that it is true. There are times when choosing Jesus causes division amongst family and friends. Sometimes bringing up issues of faith can bring forth looks from friends and relatives as if you have three eyes, or an all too telling avoidance. One might think of various teachings of the church which one avoids discussing amongst one’s friends or relatives toward illustrating the message in today’s reading. Consider how church teachings and the influence of church teachings have greatly diminished in the area of family life. Consider how changes in what people choose to believe have been cause for division amongst families; this is particularly seen in areas involving the use of contraception, sexual activity outside of marriage, and church attendance. As parents it is our job to pass down to our children the faith, and in today’s world where we compete with an overwhelming anti-Christian message it can be a very daunting task. If we are going to be at all successful we will need to be prayerful and rely upon God’s grace amongst a culture that so strongly discourages any open display of one’s faith. Openly expressing one’s faith as a Christian is just not politically correct. Just try it, and see how quickly folks shy away. Unfortunately for far too many folks faith is something which is private and relegated for a brief part of their Sunday mornings (with a fair degree of inconsistency I might add) and other periodic occasions. Nevertheless, if we are to pass on our faith effectively to our children we cannot just rely upon what our children might glean from church attendance, as parents we must assume the primary role in teaching the faith to our children, and most of all we must live it. The most effective means we have of instructing our children is by example. If we want our children to live the faith we must live it. You cannot give what you do not have. How do our lives reflect our faith? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin.