When we consider the Christian life, we often think in positive terms: peace, light, joy, goodness, life. And yet, as the Scriptures remind us today, that Christian life must be lived in the midst of a world which is filled with more negative terms: division, distress, cruelty and death. The words of the Gospel may appear shocking to us: Jesus says that he comes to bring “division, not peace”, and this seems totally contrary to the message of the Gospel! And yet, Jesus is not announcing his desire – of course he wants peace, not division – but showing his understanding of the world in which we live. He is inviting us to weigh up the cost of the Kingdom, a cost he was willing to embrace: as the second reading tells us: “… Jesus, for the sake of the joy which was still in the future, endured the cross…” Whatever weighs us down, let us endure and persevere, so that the fire of God’s love may blaze over the whole earth!
Today’s Scripture
Jeremiah 38: 4 – 6, 8 – 10
Response: Psalm 39.
I waited, I waited for the Lord
and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry.
He drew me from the deadly pit,
from the miry clay.
He set my feet upon a rock
and made my footsteps firm.
He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God.
Many shall see and fear
and shall trust in the Lord.
As for me, wretched and poor,
the Lord thinks of me.
You are my rescuer, my help.
O God, do not delay.
(sung antiphon: Lord, come to my aid.)
Hebrews 12: 1 – 4
Acclamation to the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Luke 12: 49 – 53
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, hear our cry.
