Gospel for August 18, 2013 , Sunday, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.

Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18
Lord, come to my aid!

1st Reading: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10

Then the officials told the king,“This man should be put to death, because he is weakening the will of the fighting men and the people left the city. In fact he is not out to save the people but to do harm.” King Zedekiah said, “His life is in your hands for the king has no power against you.”

So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, in the Guards’ Court. They lowered him by means of ropes. There was no water in the cistern but only mud and Jeremiah sank into the mud. Ebedmelech went and spoke to him, “My lord king! These men have acted wickedly in all they did to Jeremiah the prophet. They threw him into the cistern where he will die.”

So the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian: “Take three men with you from here and draw Jeremiah the prophet out from the cistern before he dies.”

2nd Reading: Heb 12:1-4

What a cloud of innumerable witnesses surround us! So let us be rid of every encumbrance, and especially of sin, to persevere in running the race marked out before us.

Let us look to Jesus the founder of our faith, who will bring it to completion. For the sake of the joy re- served for him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and then sat at the right of the throne of God. Think of Jesus who suffered so many contradictions from evil people, and you will not be discouraged or grow weary. Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?

Gospel: Lk 12:49-53

I have come to bring fire up on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is over! Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five 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 her mother-in-law.”

Reflection:

Read: Prophet Jeremiah suffers at the hands of his own people who turn against him. The Samaritans refuse to receive Jesus or offer him lodging, as they do not approve of his intentions. The author of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the suffering and rejection Jesus endured in fulfilling his mission, and invites us to draw strength from Jesus in our own struggles in witnessing to the faith.

Reflect: We continue to reflect on the theme of blessings and trials which we encountered last Sunday. Jeremiah suffers terribly at the hands of his own people, but he remains faithful to his mission. Jesus is fully focused on his mission and takes being rejected in stride. Sometimes the rejection can come from individuals and groups who serve the same Lord—John and his friends were quick to silence the stranger who was ministering in Christ’s name. During such difficult moments of opposition from within and without, let us look to Christ and draw strength from the example of the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us.

Pray: Lord God, we pray for all the missionaries who are persecuted for their missionary service of the Gospel. We pray for all Christians who suffer discrimination and persecution in different parts of the world. Be their strength and reward, Amen.

Listen: In your imagination, observe and listen to how Jesus responds to the Samaritans who refuse hospitality to him.

Act: Pray a decade of the Rosary for missionaries.

Prayer:

“Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Lord, your message of salvation is sometimes hard to accept, for you teach us to turn the left cheek when the other cheek is slapped; and if someone takes our coat, we must give him our cloak as well; if he makes us go a mile with him, we must go with him two; to be meek and humble of heart which is counterintuitive if we have to stay out of harm’s way. Perhaps that is the reason why you will not bring peace, but rather division, because your law is contrary to what we learn by force of circumstance. Thank you for giving us an alternative lifestyle, for the world takes its toll on us, it robs us of peace as we create enemies because we didn’t turn the other cheek, or the one who wanted to have our coat died from the cold because we refused to let him have it, or we became too bellicose for our own good and we are killed because we resisted superior force. Send us the holy spirit so that we will learn your virtues, for to get our reward in heaven we have to be like you. Teach us to “take your yoke upon ourselves, and learn from you, for you are gentle and lowly in heart, and we will find rest for your souls.” Amen.