October 25th, 2018

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
476

FIRST READING
EPH 3:14-21

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

PSALM
PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

Response: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.

For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

GOSPEL
LK 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Daily Reflection

25th October 2018

The Old Testament often uses the symbol of fire to identify God or His presence e.g. the Burning Bush, The Pillar of Fire, the fire that descends upon Elijah’s offering, etc. Among its many qualities, its action of purifying is most highlighted in the Bible. Jesus, in the Gospel speaks of his mission using the symbolism of fire:

a) To set fire to the earth: The judgement of God seen in the purifying action of the Holy Spirit.
b) Baptism : His immersion into his salvific death.
c) Sword : Choosing Jesus and following him will be a cause for opposition.

St. Paul, who has been given great insight into this mystery of Christ, prays for the Ephesians that in making a choice for Christ and striving to follow Him, they may experience the “breadth, length, depth & height” of God’s love revealed in Christ.

May this also be our very own prayer!