FIRST READING
Rooted and grounded in love, may you be filled with all the fullness of God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3 :14-21)
Brethren: I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:1-2.4—5.11- 12.18-19 (R. 5b)
R/. The Lord’s merciful love fills the earth.
Ring out your joy to the Lord,
O you just; for praise is fitting for the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp;
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. R/.
For the word of the Lord is faithful,
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right,
and his merciful love fills the earth. R/.
R/. The Lord’s merciful love fills the earth.
The designs of the Lord stand forever,
the plans of his heart from age to age.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his heritage. R/.
Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on
those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R/.
ALLELUIA Philippians 3:8-9a
Alleluia. I count everything as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
I have not come to give peace, but rather division.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 12:49-53)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Today’s gospel shocks the mind with utter bewilderment concerning the personality of Jesus. Is the prince of Peace now an entity of confusion and contradiction? No! Fire purifies and Baptism washes anew. That is the state of affairs that the gospel of Christ institutes. The truth purifies the earth and washes it anew, such that the people of the world refuse to hear it because of its purifying effect. Thus, the rancor and confusion stated in the gospel is the effect of the truth. The gospel urges us to an examination of conscience to speak the truth that brings peace to the righteous but causes division to an unsettled mind. When the truth of the gospel is proclaimed, righteous hearts are at peace but the heart of the wicked is in trouble with divisions, confusion, fire and rancor. Indeed, Jesus has brought everlasting peace and truth! How do we relate with this gospel?