Reading 1 Jer 38:4-6, 8-10
“Jeremiah ought to be put to death;
he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city,
and all the people, by speaking such things to them;
he is not interested in the welfare of our people,
but in their ruin.”
King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your power”;
for the king could do nothing with them.
And so they took Jeremiah
and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah,
which was in the quarters of the guard,
letting him down with ropes.
There was no water in the cistern, only mud,
and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
Ebed-melech, a court official,
went there from the palace and said to him:
“My lord king,
these men have been at fault
in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah,
casting him into the cistern.
He will die of famine on the spot,
for there is no more food in the city.”
Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite
to take three men along with him,
and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before
he should die.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the mud of the swamp;
he set my feet upon a crag;
he made firm my steps.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe
and trust in the LORD.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, hold not back!
R. Lord, come to my aid!
Reading 2 Heb 12:1-4
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Alleluia Jn 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
"FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS" (Heb 3:1)
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who inspires and perfects our faith." –Hebrews 12:2
When we are persecuted and, like Jeremiah, thrown in the muddy cistern to die (Jer 38:6), "let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2).
When we are tempted to "grow despondent or abandon the struggle" (Heb 12:3), "let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2).
When there's division in our families, "three against two and two against three" (Lk 12:52), let us forgive 70 x 7 (Mt 18:22) and "fix [our] eyes on Jesus" (Heb 3:1).
When we get the bad news of a death in the family, a cancerous tumor, a divorce, a suicide, or a sin, "let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2).
When we get the good news of pregnancy, birth, repentance, reconciliation, salvation, healing, or a happy death, "let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2).
When we look at Jesus, we see Him risen, glorified, and enthroned in supreme power at the right hand of God the Father. When we look at Jesus, we see His nail-scarred hands and feet. We see crucified love. The crucified and glorified Jesus invites each of us not only to look at Him but to live for and in Him. Accept His invitation.
| PRAYER: | Father, with my eyes fixed on Jesus, may I struggle "against sin" and even shed my blood for love of You (Heb 12:4). |
| PROMISE: | "I have come to light a fire on the earth." –Lk 12:49 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, our Hope for the resurrection of the dead. |
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