Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

We like to think of Jesus bringing peace and joy, healing and inspiration as he traveled from village to village with his disciples. But at this point in Luke’s Gospel he is making his way to Jerusalem, where he knows what he will face, and his message has become sobering. The road to redemption is difficult. Jesus knew that sin and evil must be confronted. Our own encounters with sin and evil can be divisive, as Jesus warned his disciples. Let us pray for the will and the courage to stand up for what is right and good and holy, no matter the consequences.
 

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

We hear Jesus tell his disciples that he has come to set the earth on fire. Centuries before, Jeremiah set the earth on fire with his fiery preach- ing against injustice. Both find themselves persecuted by authorities. But divisive as their words are, God watches over them. Jeremiah is rescued. Jesus is raised from the dead. May their example help us to avoid growing weary and losing heart when we struggle to carry out our mission.
 

Reflections

• Just last week we heard how important faith is in leading us to trust in God. The author of Hebrews gave Abraham as an example. When God told Abraham that he and Sarah would have descendants as numerous as the stars, Abraham must have thought it unbelievable. Sarah was past childbearing age and they had no children. But he trusted in the Lord, just as he did later when asked to sacrifice their only son, Isaac. He could not understand, but he believed because he trusted. When we hear Jesus say that he has come to set the earth ablaze, setting parent against child and dividing households against each other, we find it very difficult to understand or to accept. But in the end we trust in the Lord because we believe in him. We accept that sometimes we just can’t understand the reason why.

• We have an advantage that the disciples did not have at this time. We know that after the Resurrection the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in what was depicted as multiple tongues of flame. We know that the Holy Spirit aided the disciples in carrying out their mission, preaching repentance for the forgive- ness of sins and making disciples of all nations. We can imagine that the wisdom and fortitude they received allowed them to confront sin and evil and that the purifying fire could cauterize the wound they produced, allowing healing and reconciliation to begin. In baptism we have received the Holy Spirit as well, enabling us to carry on in Jesus’ mission.

• The voice of Hebrews can give us reassurance in running the race that can see us confronting sin and evil, perhaps causing division among others. Jesus endured persecution to the point of losing his life, but God watched over him and raised him to new life. His example allows us to avoid growing weary or losing heart, despite the trauma and hardships we may endure.
 

Question of the Week

Can I feel the fire within that leads me to speak out and speak up despite the consequences?

-from Pastoral Patterns

LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, August 14th, 2022, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, August 14th, 2022, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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