Theme of the Sunday: THE PROPHET: A BOTHERSOME MAN.

The gospel tells us that we must not be afraid of division caused by the word of God, which comes from the reaction of the “old world” that is trying desperately to remain alive. The first reading gives the example of Jeremiah, a timid, sensible man whom God entrusts with proclaiming a hard message that goes against the wishes of the king and of the army. He was persecuted, but God was at his side and freed him. Anybody who becomes a true announcer of the word of God will be persecuted too. The second reading invites us all to be strong and to do our best to overcome our difficulties, like athletes in a race.

FIRST READING

“You bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land” (Jer 15.10).

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:4-6.8-10)

In those days: The princes said to the king, “Let this 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. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” King Zedekiah said, “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, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire. Ebed-melech  went  from  the king’s house and said to the king, “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern; and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, “Take three men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 40:2.3.4.18 (R. 14b)

R/. Lord, make haste to help me!

I waited, I waited for the Lord,

and he stooped down to me;

he heard my cry. R/.

He drew me from the deadly pit, 

from the miry clay.

He set my feet upon a rock,

made my footsteps firm. R/.

He put a new song into my mouth,

praise of our God.

Many shall see and fear

and shall trust in the Lord. R/.          

Wretched and poor though I am,

the Lord is mindful of me.

You are my rescuer, my help;    

O my God, do not delay. R/.

SECOND READING          

 “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12: 1-4)

Brethren: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, 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.

The word of the Lord.

GOSPEL

“I have come not to give peace, but 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.