Today’s epistle reading is from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:18-23:

And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in his sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

On the idea that Christ made peace through the blood of his cross, St. Cyril of Jerusalem writes:

Our Savior endured all this, making peace through the blood of the cross, for all things, whether in heavens or on the earth. For we were enemies of God through sin, and God had decreed the death of the sinner. One of two things therefore was necessary: either that God in his truth should destroy all men, or that in his loving-kindness, he should remit the sentence. But see the wisdom of God! He preserved the truth of his sentence and the exercise of his loving-kindness. Christ took our sins in his body upon the Tree, that we, having died to sin by his death might live to justice. He who died for us was of no small worth. He was no material sheep; he was no mere man. He was more than an angel; he was God made man. The iniquity of sinners was not as great as the justice of him who died for them. The sins we committed were not as great as the justice he wrought, who laid down his life for us. He laid it down when he willed, and he took it up again when he willed.

Today’s gospel reading is from St. Luke 12:48-59:

“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided 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.”

Then he also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

What is the fire about which Jesus speaks in today’s gospel reading? St. Cyril of Alexandria writes:

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. 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 the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is the divinely inspired Scriptures’ 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.

Let us ask of good gifts from the God of heaven those things which bestow on us his will. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. To him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.