XX Sunday in OT[C]: Jere38:1-2,4-6,8-10; Heb12:1-4; Lk12:49-53

XX Sunday in OT[C]: Jere38:1-2,4-6,8-10; Heb12:1-4; Lk12:49-53

Introduction:   Today, the 20^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Church encourages us, and raises our morale to fight against evil following the footsteps of Christ our Lord, who came to bring “fire” upon the earth in order to communicate to us something of his tremendous zeal. Jesus comes to purify, transform, and save us, our families and society from the perils that afflict us.

Exegesis: Jeremiah, in our First Reading, is presented as experiencing the consequences of the burning word of God within him. After speaking about the cloud of witnesses, Hebrews tells us to have our eyes fixed on Jesus. And what does Jesus want? In the Gospel he says he wants to set the earth on fire. It's the fire of love - of immersion in the Holy Trinity through baptism and Eucharist.

In the Bible, fire is sometimes symbolic of purification (for example, Num 31:23; Ezek 22:19-22), and, more often, is associated with God’s judgment (for example, Judith 16:17; Isaiah 66:16; Amos 7:4; 2 Pet 3:7).  The image of fire is also used to symbolize God's glory (Ezekiel 1:4, 13), His protective presence (2 Kings 6:17), His holiness (Deut. 4:24), His righteous judgment (Zechariah 13:9), and His wrath against sin (Isaiah 66:15-16).  The image of fire is also used of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11 and Acts 2:3).  Fire has many characteristics: it warms, purifies, refines, transforms, and burns.  As a purifying force, fire burns up what is useless and refines what is impure besides giving warmth and energy.  Elijah brought the fire of judgment on the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:36-40) and the soldiers of King Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:10-14).  John the Baptist promises that Jesus "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire"(Matt 3: 11), and that promise was fulfilled at Pentecost.  James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon the Samaritans who rejected Jesus, but Jesus would not permit it (Luke 9:54).  We are also reminded of the prophet's words, "For he is like a refiner's fire…" (Mal 3:2).  The fire burns hot, removing impurities and leaving only that which is desirable.  These meanings suggest that the fire which Jesus brings will consume or purify the world.  However, it is also possible that he means that his baptism will be a baptism of fire.  In the Aramaic language the word translated as “earth” can also mean “earth-oven,” the common stove in Mediterranean villages, heated by burning dried and salted camel-dung patties.  The salt in the dried camel dung acted as a catalyst keeping fire burning for a long time.  In that sense, Jesus acts as a catalyst in his believers’ life

Event:  In the 1920s, an English adventurer named Mallory led an expedition to conquer Mount Everest. His first, second and even his third attempt with an experienced team met with failure. Upon his return to England, the few who had survived held a banquet to salute Mallory and those who had perished. As he stood up to speak he looked around he saw picture frames of himself and those who had died. Then he turned his back on the crowd and faced a large picture of Mount Everest looming large like an unbeatable giant. With tears streaming down his face, he spoke to the mountain on behalf of his dead friends. “I speak to you Mt. Everest, in the name of all brave men living, and those yet unborn. Mt. Everest, you defeated us once, you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times. But Mt. Everest, we shall someday defeat you, because you can’t get any bigger, but we can.” Today’s scripture challenges us to confront the world with prophetic courage of our Christian convictions (John Rose in John’s Sunday Homilies).

Joke:  A man was getting on a bus. Somehow his shoe came off and fell into the street. Since he could not retrieve it, he took off the second one. While seated he threw it out the window in the direction of the other one. To a puzzled looking passenger, he said, "The fellow who finds the first shoe now will have a good pair to walk about in."  The bus moved on. Shockingly, another passenger who got into the bus at last, seeing the lost shoe, took it and extends his shoe to him with pleasing and helpful mind. 

Practical Application: 1) We should have fire in our hearts: On the day of our Baptism, we received the light of Christ and were instructed to keep that torch burning brightly until the return of Christ Jesus. In addition, the Holy Spirit was sent into our hearts at Confirmation to help set us on fire. “He who is on fire cannot sit on a chair.” So, as Christians on fire, we have to inflame people to care, to serve, and to bless one another with all the gifts of faith. We should allow that fire to burn off the impurities in us and to bring out the purity of the gold and silver within us.

2) I invite you, I encourage you, I beg you to run the race - keep participating in the sacraments, especially Holy Mass. With that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, let's rid ourselves of every burden and sin - and persevere in running the race, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Introduction:  Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message:  The Lord came to the aid of Jeremiah whose preaching brought upon him rejection and ill treatment.  For those who take the gospel seriously, misunderstanding and division must likewise be expected.  Like Christ, we must never grow despondent or abandon the struggle to proclaim and live the truth.

Saints and Events in this week:   Nineteenth(19)-Monday-Saint John Eudes, priest; Twentieth(20)-Tuesday-Saint Bernard, abbot, doctor of the Church; Twenty-first(21)-Wednesday-Saint Pius X, pope;  Twenty-second(22)-Thursday-The Queenship of Mary; Twenty Third(23)-Friday-Saint Rose of Lima, virgin;  Twenty Forth(24)-Saturday-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle.