Daily Readings - Sun Aug 14 2022
Jeremiah
4And the leaders said to the king: "We petition you to put this man to death. For he is deliberately weakening the hands of the men of war, who have remained in this city, and the hands of the people, by speaking to them with these words. For this man is certainly not seeking peace for this people, but evil.5And king Zedekiah said: "Behold, he is in your hands. For it is not fitting for the king to deny you anything.6Therefore, they took Jeremiah and cast him into the pit of Malchiah, the son of Amelech, which was at the entrance to the prison. And they lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the pit, in which there was no water, but only mud. And so Jeremiah descended into the mire8And so Ebedmelech departed from the king’s house, and he spoke to the king, saying9"My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have perpetrated against Jeremiah the prophet, casting him into the pit so that he would die there from famine. For there is no more bread in the city.10And so the king instructed Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian, saying: "Take with you thirty men from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet from the pit, before he dies.
Hebrews
1Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us2Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God3So then, meditate upon him who endured such adversity from sinners against himself, so that you may not become weary, failing in your souls4For you have not yet resisted unto blood, while striving against sin
Luke
49I have come to cast a fire upon the earth. And what should I desire, except that it may be kindled50And I have a baptism, with which I am to be baptized. And how I am constrained, even until it may be accomplished51Do you think that I have come to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division52For from this time on, there will be five in one house: divided as three against two, and as two against three53A father will be divided against a son, and a son against his father; a mother against a daughter and a daughter against a mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the cost of faith, the power of perseverance, and the transformative fire of God’s love. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we see the prophet facing severe persecution for his unwavering commitment to God’s word. Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy pit by those who reject his message, yet he remains faithful even in the midst of suffering. This passage reminds us that living out our faith can sometimes lead to opposition, but it is in these moments that our trust in God is tested and refined.
The second reading from Hebrews encourages us to gaze upon Jesus, who endured the cross for the sake of our salvation. The author reminds us that we have not yet suffered to the point of shedding blood, and so we must not grow weary in our struggle against sin. This passage calls us to perseverance, urging us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is both the Author and the Completion of our faith. Just as Jeremiah trusted in God’s deliverance, we too can find strength in the knowledge that our struggles are not in vain.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the fire he has come to cast upon the earth—a fire that will bring division but also purification. He reminds us that following him is not a path of comfort or ease but one that requires sacrifice and commitment. Just as Jeremiah faced division and opposition, we too may experience tension when we stand firm in our faith. Yet, this fire of God’s love is not meant to destroy but to transform us, to deepen our relationship with him, and to empower us to live as witnesses of his truth in a world that often resists it. Let us embrace this fire, trusting that it will refine us and draw us closer to the heart of God.