First Reading

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

You bore me to be a man of strife for the whole world.

The king’s leading men spoke to the king. ‘Let Jeremiah be put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by talking like this. The fellow does not have the welfare of this people at heart so much as its ruin.’ ‘He is in your hands as you know,’ King Zedekiah answered ‘for the king is powerless against you.’ So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the well of Prince Malchiah in the Court of the Guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the well, only mud, and into the mud Jeremiah sank.

Ebed-melech came out from the palace and spoke to the king. ‘My lord king,’ he said, ‘these men have done a wicked thing by treating the prophet Jeremiah like this: they have thrown him into the well where he will die.’ At this the king gave Ebed-melech the Cushite the following order: ‘Take three men with you from here and pull the prophet Jeremiah out of the well before he dies.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.

Then the officials said to the king,

“This man ought to be put to death,

because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city,

and 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,

“Here he is; he is in your hands;

for the king is powerless against you.”

So they took Jeremiah

and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son,

which was in the court of the guard,

letting Jeremiah down by ropes.

Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud,

and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

So Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an officer in the king’s house,

left the king’s house and spoke to the king,

“My lord king,

these men have acted wickedly

in all they did to the prophet Jeremiah

by throwing him into the cistern to 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 pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern

before he dies.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 39:2-4, 18 (JB)

R. Lord, come to my aid!

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

and 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.

As for me, wretched and poor,

the Lord thinks of me.

You are my rescuer, my help,

O God, do not delay! R.

Second Reading

Hebrews 12:1-4 (JB)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

Let us bear patiently the struggle placed upon us.

With so many witnesses in a great cloud on every side of us, we too, then, should throw off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started. Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which was still in the future, he endured the cross, disregarding the shamefulness of it, and from now on has taken his place at the right of God’s throne. Think of the way he stood such opposition from sinners and then you will not give up for want of courage. In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us also lay aside every weight

and the sin that 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 sake of the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

disregarding its shame,

and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider Jesus who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,

so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

In your struggle against sin

you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

John 10:27 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia!

John 10:27 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 12:49-53 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

I have come not to give peace, but discord.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!

‘Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:49-53 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I came to bring fire to the earth,

and how I wish it were already kindled!

I have a baptism with which to be baptized,

and what stress I am under until it is completed!

“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division!

From now on five in one household 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 mother-in-law.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.