“Choices are powerful things. In fact, they’re more powerful than most things.”

“God allows man to learn His supernatural ends, but the decision to strive towards an end, the choice of course, is left to man's free will. God does not redeem man against his will.”― Pope John Paul II (Love and Responsibility)

Gospel text: (LK 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.”

My observation is that the “tension”  with the Catholic Church and society are always about the same topics: contraception, abortion, papal authority, confession, sin and same sex marriage.

On the one hand some Catholics enthusiastically embrace the moral teachings of the Church, while at the same time ignoring the Church's social teaching.  Then, on the other hand, some will be passionate about the Church's social teaching, while throwing out the window the Church's teaching on contraception, abortion and same-sex marriage.  

To be Catholic means that we embrace the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church without tearing out the pages that we do not agree with. 

Why does Jesus cause division?  The answer is clear. 

Only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Only in the name of Jesus can we find eternal salvation.  We all have a choice to make.  Either we follow Jesus or we simply wind up doing our own thing.  

Being faithful to God entails division. For truth is opposed to lies and deception; the spirit of charity is the opposite of a selfish spirit; justice is the opposite of injustice. In the world -and inside us- there is a mixture of good and bad; and we must take sides. 

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths" (2 Timothy 3:1; 4: 3-4).

Does this sound familiar? If not, look around……………..