Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 20, 2022
First Reading: Ephesians 3.13-21
13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Gospel: Luke 12.49-53
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 transformative power of God’s grace and the challenges it presents in our lives. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul prays for the community, asking that they be strengthened by the Spirit and filled with the fullness of God. He speaks of the boundless love of Christ, which surpasses all human understanding, and he gives glory to God for the wonders he accomplishes through us. This passage is a beautiful expression of hope and trust in God’s plan, even amidst trials and tribulations. Paul, though imprisoned, remains steadfast in his faith, knowing that his sufferings contribute to the glory of God and the edification of the Church.
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, loyalties will be tested as some follow him while others oppose him. This passage is often misunderstood, but it highlights the radical nature of discipleship. Following Christ is not about maintaining comfort or avoiding conflict; it is about being transformed by his love and living according to his truth, even when it challenges our relationships and our world.
These readings remind us that living a life rooted in faith is not always easy. It requires strength from the Holy Spirit to embrace God’s plan, even when it leads to division or discomfort. In our daily lives, we are called to be instruments of Christ’s love, sharing his truth with courage and patience. Let us ask for the grace to be filled with the fullness of God, so that we may embrace the challenges of discipleship and bring his transformative love to a world in need.