TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Thursday

Year I

Readings

First Reading
Rom 6:19–23

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 1:1–2, 3, 4 and 6

Gospel
Lk 12:49–53

Meditation on Today’s Readings

Taken from the Vatican II Sunday and Weekday Missal
Written by Celia Sirois

In today’s selection from Luke, Jesus the messianic prophet is like Elijah who called down fire on the earth (cf. 1 Kgs 18:38). But is it the fire of judgment, as in the story of Elijah, or the fire of the Spirit? Similarly, Jesus says he has a baptism to undergo. But is he referring to his death or to the descent of the Holy Spirit? These sayings are ambiguous. It is not ambiguous, however, that the God revealed in Jesus, the same God revealed through Elijah on Mt. Carmel, demands a decision, a decision that may sever the closest family ties. Simeon had prophesied this (cf. 2:35), and Jesus himself now proclaims it.

In today’s reading, Paul hints at the critical decision that the Christians at Rome have made. He reminds them of how they were once the slaves of sin; now they must be “slaves to righteousness.” The same is implied of the Ephesians. Their decision Paul credits to their being “strengthened with power through his Spirit.” That same power is at work in us too, enabling us, in turn, to decide to let the love of Christ be the root and foundation of our lives.

The copyright for the Sunday Missal Introductions is:
Copyright (c) 2001, Daughters of St. Paul
The copyright for the Weekday Missal Introduction is:
Copyright (c) 2002, Daughters of St. Paul