20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10
In those days, the princes said to the king: “Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin." King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power"; for the king could do nothing with them. And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. Ebed-melech went there from the palace and said to him, "My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city." Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.
Second Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Brothers and sisters, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam
Jesus disturbed the people of his time with his language of fire and conflict. Another person that came back to me as I read the gospel of today was Pope Francis. I have heard mixed reactions from people about Our Pope who is casting fire on the earth in his own inimitable style – simple and spontaneous, yet powerful and contagious. Most people are drawn to his ways – even if they are challenging. Some people feel challenged and don’t want to take up that challenge. They think, the Church is alright as it is.
Pope Francis disturbs us with his simplicity and sincerity. He wants to embrace the sinner without condoning sin. He challenges us to remove the paraphernalia and the pomp around the church so that we might become deeper. Unfortunately for some people it is the pomp that gives them security, and sadly they mistakenly identify the political structures of the church with the revealed elements of the church. "Disturb me, Lord. Disturb my false security so that I might focus my attention solely on you."
Pope Francis disturbs us with his simplicity and sincerity. He wants to embrace the sinner without condoning sin. He challenges us to remove the paraphernalia and the pomp around the church so that we might become deeper. Unfortunately for some people it is the pomp that gives them security, and sadly they mistakenly identify the political structures of the church with the revealed elements of the church. "Disturb me, Lord. Disturb my false security so that I might focus my attention solely on you."
