Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel should certainly get BAPTISM our attention, that He has come to bring division and not peace. Peace, of course, is what Jesus wants for us, the division He is calling for is our turning away from sin and being one with Christ. In our baptism, we have been made a child of God and like Jesus, we will face struggles and sufering but also great joys. Jesus sets our hearts on fre for Him, so we will not separate ourselves from Him. Keeping our eyes fxed on Jesus and following the example of the “great cloud of witnesses,” that is, those who have become saints in heaven, then we know we are on the right path. Whenever we fall of that path, through our sinfulness, we are able to be reconciled back to God through confessing our sins. This is how God comes to our aid, over and over again. Through forgiveness, our souls are refreshed and made new once again and God strengthens us to get back on the right path and journey to Him.
Monday, August 15th, the Assumption of Mary, is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year, as it falls on a Monday.