Reflection on the Word in our Worship
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!"
Luke 12:49 (ESV)
Love is good, having wings of burning fire that flies through the saints’ breasts and hearts and consumes whatever is material and earthly but tests whatever is pure. With its fire, love makes whatever it has touched better. The Lord Jesus sent this fire on earth. Faith shined brightly. Devotion was enkindled. Love was illuminated. Justice was resplendent. With this fire, he inflamed the heart of his apostles, as Cleophas bears witness, saying, “Was not our heart burning within is, while he was explaining the Scriptures?” The wings of fire are the flames of the divine Scripture. -St. Ambrose
The Collect of the Week
Keep your Church, O Lord, by your perpetual mercy; and because without you the frailty of our nature causes us to fall, keep us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29
Psalm 82 (see below)
Second Reading: Hebrews12:1-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:49-56
Psalm 82
1 God stands in the council of princes; *
he is a Judge among gods.
2 “How long will you give wrong judgment *
and accept the ungodly?
3 Defend the poor and fatherless; *
see that those who are in need
and necessity have what is right.
4 Deliver the outcast and poor; *
save them from the hand of the ungodly.”
5 They will not learn nor understand, but walk about in darkness; *
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I have said, “You are gods, *
and you are all the children of the Most High;
7 But you shall die like mortals, *
and fall like one of the princes.”
8 Arise, O God, and judge the earth, *
for you shall take all nations for your inheritance.
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