*** 1st Reading ***       

Romans 6:19-23

you see that I speak in a very human way,

Taking into account that you are not fully mature. There was a time when you let your members be slaves of impurity and disorder, walking in the way of sin; convert them now into servants of righteousness, to the point of becoming holy.

 When you were slaves of sin, you did not feel under obligation to righteousness, but what were the fruits of those actions of which you are now ashamed? Such things bring death. Now, however, you have been freed from sin and serve God.

You are bearing fruit and growing in holiness, and the result will be life everlasting. So on one side is Sin: its reward, death; on the other side is God: he gives us, by grace, life everlasting in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6

Blessed ane they who hope in the Lord.

 

**** Gospel **** 

Luke 12:49-53

 I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled; but I have a baptism to undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over!

 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 five will be 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.”

 

Gospel Reflection

Fire is fascinating and yet can also be a frightening phenomenon. In the Bible, the image of fire is used to mean division, like people separated from each other by a wall of fire.

It can also mean purification just as gold is melted down by a very hot flame to remove impurities. But most often ‘fire’ refers to judgment. This is what it means here. For preceding verses before this, Jesus talks of the return of the master of a household. It’s a day of reckoning.

The Master will examine whether his servants were faithful or not while he is far away. It is a day of reward or punishment for servants according to their faithfulness and readiness for his coming.

Now Jesus says “I have come to bring fire on the earth….” He brings the day of judgment. Are we ready to be judged because we are faithful? Or are we afraid of the day the Lord will come because of our infidelity?