Daily Readings - Sun Aug 14 2022
Jeremiah
4Then the officials said to the king, "Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm."5King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you."6So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.8Ebed-melech went from the king's house and said to the king,9"My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city."10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, "Take three men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
Hebrews
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Luke
49"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.52For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against 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.