Daily Readings - Thu Oct 22 2020
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 reflections on the nature of faith, love, and the challenges of following Christ. The first reading from Ephesians is a prayer of St. Paul, who, despite his own sufferings, intercedes for the believers, asking that they be strengthened by the Spirit and rooted in faith and love. He prays that they may come to know the immeasurable depth of God’s love and be filled with the fullness of God. This prayer is a beautiful expression of Paul’s desire for the Church to live in the richness of God’s grace and to glorify Him in all things.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a stark contrast. Jesus speaks of His mission to cast fire upon the earth, a fire that will bring division rather than peace. He describes how families will be split—three against two, and two against three—because of the radical demands of following Him. This passage is not about Jesus bringing literal fire or physical division but about the transformative and often disruptive power of the Gospel. It challenges us to recognize that living as disciples of Christ will sometimes require us to stand apart from the world and even from those closest to us.
Together, these readings remind us that living a life rooted in faith and love is both a source of strength and a call to courage. Paul’s prayer encourages us to embrace the fullness of God’s love, even as Jesus warns us that this love will not always be easy or comfortable. In our daily lives, we are called to live with conviction, trusting that the fire of God’s love will guide us through the inevitable challenges and divisions. Let us ask for the strength to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that the ultimate unity and peace we seek are found in God alone.