Daily Readings - Thu Oct 25 2018
Ephesians
13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Luke
49I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful themes that challenge us to reflect deeply on our faith and our place in the world. The first reading from Ephesians is a prayer of St. Paul, who asks God to strengthen the believers with the power of the Holy Spirit. He prays that they may be rooted in faith and love, and that they may come to understand the boundless and incomprehensible love of Christ. This prayer is born out of Paul’s own sufferings and tribulations, which he endures for the sake of the Gospel. He sees his struggles as a source of glory because they contribute to the spread of God’s grace and the unity of the Church.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a stark contrast to the harmony and unity emphasized in Ephesians. Jesus speaks of division and conflict, declaring that He has come not to bring peace but fire and separation. He warns that His message will divide families, setting members against one another. This is not because God delights in discord, but because the truth of the Gospel inevitably challenges the status quo and requires difficult choices. Jesus’ words remind us that following Him is not always easy; it may require us to stand apart from those who do not share our faith, even those closest to us.
These readings, though seemingly contradictory, are deeply connected. The unity and love that Paul prays for in Ephesians are not a superficial harmony that avoids conflict. Rather, they are a strength that enables us to stand firm in the face of division and to love even those who oppose us. Jesus’ fire is not one of destruction but of purification, calling us to a radical commitment to His truth. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this tension: to be people of love and unity who are also willing to stand up for the truth, even when it is difficult. Let us ask for the grace to be strengthened by the Spirit, to embrace the fullness of God’s love, and to live courageously as disciples of Christ, trusting that He is always at work in us, even in the midst of challenge and division.