Daily Readings - Thu Oct 24 2024
Ephesians
13Because of this, I ask you not to be weakened by my tribulations on your behalf; for this is your glory14By reason of this grace, I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ15from whom all paternity in heaven and on earth takes its name16And I ask him to grant to you to be strengthened in virtue by his Spirit, in accord with the wealth of his glory, in the inner man17so that Christ may live in your hearts through a faith rooted in, and founded on, charity18So may you be able to embrace, with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and dept19of the charity of Christ, and even be able to know that which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God20Now to him who is able to do all things, more abundantly than we could ever ask or understand, by means of the virtue which is at work in us21to him be glory, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout every generation, forever and ever. Amen
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 transformative power of God’s love and the challenges that come with living out our faith. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul offers a heartfelt prayer for the believers, asking that they be strengthened by the Spirit and rooted in faith and love. He longs for them to grasp the immense depth of Christ’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God. This prayer, born out of Paul’s own sufferings, expresses his deep concern for the unity and spiritual growth of the early Christian community.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the fire he has come to cast upon the earth, a fire that will bring division rather than peace. He describes how even within families, his message will set people against one another. This passage is often misunderstood, but it highlights the radical nature of the Gospel. Jesus is not advocating for conflict, but he is warning us that living according to his teachings will often challenge the status quo and require us to make difficult choices. True discipleship can lead to tension, even among those closest to us, as it calls us to prioritize God’s will above all else.
These readings remind us that following Christ is not a path of comfort or ease. It demands courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to division. Yet, as St. Paul’s prayer makes clear, this journey is not solitary. We are united in Christ, and it is through his love that we find strength and purpose. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to embrace the challenges of living the Gospel? Are we open to being transformed by the fire of God’s love? May we, like St. Paul, pray for the grace to be rooted in faith and love, and may we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our commitment to the truth, even when it demands great sacrifice.