Daily Readings - Sun Aug 14 2022
Jeremiah
4Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.5Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.6Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.8Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,9My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.10Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
Hebrews
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
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
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.