Biblical Reflection for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – August 18, 2013
The Scripture readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to consider the implications of our commitments, our lifestyles and our relationships with others. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the biblical prophet is called to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Jesus, like Jeremiah, will experience the prophet’s fate [Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10].
In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews [12:1-4], we learn once again that Jesus, the great architect of the Christian faith had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph. Reflection on his sufferings gives us courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood. We must regard our own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves us as a father loves his children.
In Sunday’s Gospel [Luke 12:49-53] Jesus reminds the crowd that those who commit to him will find that it affects the way they relate to friends and family members. A serious commitment to Jesus forces us to change the way we live our lives, and this can put strains on relationships. We don’t expect to hear such difficult words from Jesus in the Gospels. But it is good to be reminded once in a while that the decision to do the right thing, the good thing and the best thing, is not always easy and without conflict. Jesus himself did not make easy decisions and avoid conflict. Jesus reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult decisions and conflict as well.
Jesus demands a decision either for or against his message
The baptism referred to in Sunday’s Gospel is actually Christ’s passion and death. He longs for this event to take place [Luke 12:50]. Family members are divided against one another; the harsh reality is that the Church’s mission of conversion will not be a total success. Jesus demands a decision either for or against his message. “I came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were already kindled” [Luke 12:49]. Jesus did not sit on the fence, resisting hard decisions for fear of not being accepted. He never sought harmony and a middle way in every dispute. He walked into the midst of great conflicts of his time and was unafraid of making tough decisions.
Let us reflect for a moment on our own lack of courage and conviction in the many decisions we must make in life. Many of us hold a view that Christians should always seek harmony and a ‘middle way’ in every dispute and we assume that tension and conflict are worse evils than injustice and oppression. We place a very high premium on being liked and accepted by everyone! And we are often very afraid of revealing who we really are and what we really believe to those we think are friends! We fear rejection!