Daily Readings - Sun Aug 14 2022
Jeremiah
4Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."5"He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."6So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.8Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him,9"My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city."10Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, "Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
Hebrews
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Luke
49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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 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.