The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the prompting of the Spirit to set a fire in our desire that we should live in the fullness of life offered by Christ.
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians is a prayer for fullness for the readers.
* [3:14–21] The apostle prays that those he is addressing may, like the rest of the church, deepen their understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. It is a plan that affects the whole universe (Eph 3:15) with the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love in Christ (Eph 3:18) or possibly the universe in all its dimensions. The apostle prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and be completely immersed in the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). The prayer concludes with a doxology to God (Eph 3:20–21). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is described as a cause of division.
* [12:49–53] Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom is a refining and purifying fire. His message that meets with acceptance or rejection will be a source of conflict and dissension even within families. (Luke, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Julie Kalkowski comments that the abrupt change in direction and tone of the readings left her disconcerted and full of questions.
And the reason for the extreme contrast in today’s readings became evident. While Jesus was all about love and inclusion, he was also about making our communities more equitable. He challenged the authorities in his time and I believe he would challenge today’s reality in America that 1% of the population has about the same amount of wealth as 90% of Americans.
Jesus did not want us to adjust and adapt ourselves to live in a world where one in six children are hungry; more than 100 million people are refugees; and climate change is so damaging our world and destroying people’s homes and way of life. I like to think that the Jesus in today’s Gospel is encouraging us to be “creatively maladjusted” to these realities. (Kalkowski, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The fire of the Gospel and being baptized in the Holy Spirit,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"We affirm that the fire that Christ sent out is for humanity's salvation and profit. May God grant that all our hearts be full of this. The fire is the saving message of the Gospel and the power of its commandments. We were cold and dead because of sin and in ignorance of him who by nature is truly God. The gospel ignites all of us on earth to a life of piety and makes us fervent in spirit, according to the expression of blessed Paul (Romans 12:11). Besides this, we are also made partakers of the Holy Spirit, who is like fire within us. We have been baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit. We have learned the way from what Christ says to us. Listen to his words: 'Truly I say to you, that except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:5). It is the divinely inspired Scripture's custom to give the name of fire sometimes to the divine and sacred words and to the efficacy and power which is by the Holy Spirit by which we are made fervent in spirit." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 94) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Ephesians 3:14-21 comments that in times of trial, however, that the roots of our faith can grow and be strengthened in an even deeper way. These “dry” seasons of life can be difficult, but they force us to stretch out these roots and go deeper with the Lord—just as any tree does during a drought. By turning to Christ continually and seeking the life-giving water of his Spirit, we discover that he is loving us through our hardships and caring for our every need. Then the next time we go through a dry season, we already have a well-developed “root system” that nourishes and sustains us.
Whether you’re in a dry season or a fruitful one, the Lord wants you to “comprehend . . . what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of his love for you (Ephesians 3:18). Sit quietly for a few minutes today and allow him to fill you with a love that has no limits. Know that the more you abide in his love, the more you can thrive and flourish through any season in your life.
“Lord, show me your love. Help me to stay rooted in you.” (Meditation on Ephesians 3:14-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the consecratory prayer, naming the Trinity, in the Letter to the Ephesians. The mystery of Love calls us to salvation. The passage from Luke presents the response of some who reject the Prince of Peace. Friar Jude reminds us that some will dissociate from those who live in His Life and Love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, understands justice as loving solidarity with those who suffer.
Right now there is a woman in Syria or Ukraine carrying her baby and running for her life. I must take that in and be in solidarity with her in whatever ways I can, witnessing what she is going through: the anxiety, the pain, the fear. That’s what teaches us how to love. That is the pain we must allow to transform us and inspire us to act somehow. (Rohr, 2022)
Theologians Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Graham Hill, comment that we restore justice when we practice “hospitality of heart” inspired by Jesus.
Jesus embodied the justice of God in his love, hospitality, truth, and grace. Jesus had a just mission. Revealing the justice of God, Jesus welcomed the stranger, rejected social discrimination, confronted economic injustice, spoke against institutional power, and repudiated war and violence. . . . (Rohr, 2022)
Carol Dempsey says that the spirit of justice is “hospitality of heart.”
When we open our hearts to hospitality, we feel compelled to seek justice. When we embrace creation, the poor, our enemies, strangers, foreigners, outcasts, and others, we desire justice for them. We welcome without judging. We love our neighbors as ourselves. We reflect the justice, love, and hospitality of God. This hospitality leads us to desire and work for the flourishing, well-being, and good of others. [3] (Rohr, 2022)
We can expect some opposition to our piety, study, and action in our acceptance of our role as priest, prophet, and leader in Jesus name.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3?14
Kalkowski, J. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102022.html
Luke, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?49
Meditation on Ephesians 3:14-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/20/515770/
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?1
Rohr, R. (2022, October 20). Hospitality of the Heart — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hospitality-of-the-heart-2022-10-20/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Came to Cast Fire upon the Earth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct20
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