23 October 2025 (Thursday) / Ordinary Weekday/ Saint John of Capistrano, Priest / Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time/ Saint John of Capistrano, Priest

23 October 2025 (Thursday)

Ordinary Weekday/ Saint John of Capistrano, Priest.

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time/ Saint John of Capistrano, Priest.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Romans 6: 19-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Alleluia: John 8: 12
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

First Reading: Romans 6: 19-23

I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice. What fruit therefore had you then in those things, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end life everlasting. For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (Psalms 40:5) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth. For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia: John 8: 12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
12 I am the light of the world, says the Lord, anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled? And I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized: and how am I straitened until it be accomplished? Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation. For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against his father, the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

For our reflection today:

This Sunday, the word of God contains a word of Jesus which alarms us and must be explained, for otherwise it could give rise to misunderstanding. Jesus says to his disciples: “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Lk 12:51). What does this mean? It is not that Jesus wishes to split people up. On the contrary Jesus is our peace, he is our reconciliation! But this peace is not the peace of the tomb, it is not neutrality, Jesus does not bring neutrality, this peace is not a compromise at all costs. Following Jesus entails giving up evil and selfishness and choosing good, truth and justice, even when this demands sacrifice and the renunciation of our own interests. And this indeed divides; as we know, it even cuts the closest ties. However, be careful: it is not Jesus who creates division! He establishes the criterion: whether to live for ourselves or to live for God and for others; to be served or to serve; to obey one’s own ego or to obey God. It is in this sense that Jesus is a “sign that is spoken against” (Lk 2:34). This word of the Gospel does not therefore authorize the use of force to spread the faith. It is exactly the opposite: the Christian’s real force is the force of truth and of love, which involves renouncing all forms of violence. Faith and violence are incompatible! Instead, faith and strength go together. Christians are not violent; they are strong. And with what kind of strength? That of meekness, the strength of meekness, the strength of love. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 18 August 2013)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)