Daily Readings - Thu Oct 24 2024
Ephesians
13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.14For this reason I kneel before the Father,15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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 transformative power of God’s love and the challenges that come with living out our faith. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul offers a heartfelt prayer for the believers, asking that they be strengthened by the Spirit and rooted in faith and love. He longs for them to grasp the immense depth of Christ’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God. This prayer, born out of Paul’s own sufferings, expresses his deep concern for the unity and spiritual growth of the early Christian community.
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, his message will set people against one another. This passage is often misunderstood, but it highlights the radical nature of the Gospel. Jesus is not advocating for conflict, but he is warning us that living according to his teachings will often challenge the status quo and require us to make difficult choices. True discipleship can lead to tension, even among those closest to us, as it calls us to prioritize God’s will above all else.
These readings remind us that following Christ is not a path of comfort or ease. It demands courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to division. Yet, as St. Paul’s prayer makes clear, this journey is not solitary. We are united in Christ, and it is through his love that we find strength and purpose. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to embrace the challenges of living the Gospel? Are we open to being transformed by the fire of God’s love? May we, like St. Paul, pray for the grace to be rooted in faith and love, and may we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our commitment to the truth, even when it demands great sacrifice.