First Reading: (Jeremiah 38:4–6, 8–10)
The princes said to the king, “Let Jeremiah be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city and the hands of all the people by speaking such words to them. This man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
King Zedekiah replied, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, letting him down by ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into it.
Ebed-melech the Ethiopian went from the king’s house and said to the king, “My lord, these men have done evil in all they did to Jeremiah by casting him into the cistern, where he will die of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech, “Take three men with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18)
Response: Lord, make haste to help me.
Second Reading: (Hebrews 12:1–4)
Brethren, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and run with perseverance the race set before us. Let us look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured hostility from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Alleluia: (John 10:27)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: (Luke 12:49–53)
At that time Jesus said to his disciples:
“I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished. Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on, 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 mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says He has come to bring fire on the earth and that He has not come to bring peace, but division. At first, these words seem shocking. Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace, the one who taught us to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies? Yes—but here, Jesus is not speaking of violence or hatred. He is speaking of the fire of love, truth, and zeal for God.
Scripture speaks of fire in many ways:
The fire of destruction, judgment where evil is consumed.
The fire of the Holy Spirit, as at Pentecost when tongues of fire rested on the apostles.
The fire of acceptance, God’s sign of receiving a true sacrifice, as with Abel or Elijah on Mount Carmel. The fire of zeal, burning love for God’s word, as when the disciples on the road to Emmaus said, “Were not our hearts burning within us?”
The fire Jesus speaks of is this zeal—the fire of God’s love that sets our hearts ablaze. We first received this light at baptism, but for many, that flame has grown dim. Jesus desires it to burn brightly. To be “on fire” means to live passionately for God, the way we say an athlete or student is “on fire” when performing at their best.
But such fire comes with a cost. Living with zeal for Christ can bring rejection, mockery, or even hatred, sometimes even within families, just as Jesus foretold. Yet this is no reason to fear. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern for speaking the truth, but God rescued him. The Psalmist cries: “Lord, make haste to help me.” And the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us to keep running the race with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus who endured the cross for us.
Faith in Christ is not lukewarm. It is a fire that burns away indifference and calls us to courage. Most things grow by opposition, our faith deepens when tested, our witness shines brightest when challenged.
Beloved, may we be Christians on fire: Fire to proclaim the Gospel, Fire of love that wins back hardened hearts. Fire of zeal that drives us to holiness.
A few weeks ago was the feast Day of St. Dominic. His mother had a vision of his birth and saw a dog had fire running across the field and setting it ablaze. That is yet another example of the extraordinary image of fire to drive things home with the Gospel message.
Today, let us pray that the fire of Christ’s love may blaze within us, consuming fear, inspiring courage, and drawing others to the warmth of His kingdom.
“Lord, come to my aid!” (Psalm 40:14b).
Happy Sunday and
God bless you.
~Pal Ronnie~
Inspired by: Fr. Blessed, St. Raphael Campus Mass, USCCB, Bishop Robert Barron, Word on Fire🔥
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