20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word: Following Jesus is seeking what is above.
Theme: We seek what is above when we persevere and fix our eyes on Jesus.
Promise: “The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction …; he made firm my steps.” (Ps 40:1-2)
Reflection:
THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR CHRISTIANS
“I have come to bring fire on the earth …” (Luke 12:49). This Gospel passage of the 20th Sunday in Ordinary time can be interpreted in two ways. It could either refer to the coming of Jesus when He was born of a woman or to His second coming.
If we are to regard this passage as an aftermath of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ when Jesus talks of His second coming, then this Gospel appears to be directed specifically to those who belong to a parish or to a renewal community as it speaks of His coming as a day of judgment when Jesus will scrutinize all our works and how we used our gifts, how we invested the talents entrusted to us, how well we loved our neighbor, and whether our lives bore fruit.
On the other hand, if we are to look at this passage in terms of a pre-crucifixion scenario, then we see Jesus giving His disciples the reason and the purpose for why He was sent into the world.
This passage is like a double-edged sword in that Jesus came not only to cast judgment on the people which was probably how the Jews associated it since fire in the olden times was regarded as a symbol of judgment. But it could also mean to be a future event that would happen on the day of Pentecost. Prior to the advent of the New Testament, God has been sending prophets to bring the people closer to God. But the people’s faith in those days wasn’t what God had expected and this was what Jesus pointed out when He said: “and how I wish it were already kindled.”
The fact that Jesus talked about “a baptism that I had to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed”(v.50) meant that this passage was a pre-crucifixion scenario in which he was talking of his passion, death and resurrection which to him was a baptism that he had to undergo in obedience to the Will of the Father. A deeper reflection of vv.49-50 will reveal the pain and frustration that Jesus feels and the verses which follow will show in the strongest possible terms what His coming would create – a division not only within the family but also among the people.
His words in this Gospel was actually a warning to the people that they should expect and be prepared to make a decision that will have a bearing on their future in the heavenly Kingdom. Indeed Jesus was not only giving His disciples and His listeners a preview of what His coming meant. He was actually demanding a response not only from the people who listened to Him preach and those who were healed but He also wants us now to draw the line between the world and eternal salvation.
But Christianity should not be viewed as divisive which was probably the reason why the Roman government hated Christianity because it divided families. Christianity should be looked into as a unifying force because its true intention is to bring everyone to believe, to have faith and to love God. What Jesus was trying to picture in this Gospel was that loyalty to Him must be the priority over anything else. For those who have accepted Christ as his Savior, we must do what Paul says in Phil 3:8 “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Because at the end of the day, neither our good works, titles or positions we occupy, or material possessions can compensate for that which Our Lord deems as the most important which He will look for in each one of us when He finally comes – our loyalty to Our God who created us in His image and likeness.
And to those who will confess their loyalty to Christ, He will give them the power of the Holy Spirit: “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8). The great prophet Isaiah also reminds us: “You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me,” (Is 43:10). To witness for Christ is our primary responsibility and this must be rooted in our loyalty to Him who chose us and loved us and a true disciple is one who will forsake everything to love God with all their minds, hearts and soul and, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. These two commandments are the fire that will kindle and turn our hearts as our burnt offering when He comes in glory.
Reflection Questions:
1. Am I on fire with love for the Lord?
2. If not, what steps will I take to make sure that my heart is enkindled in love for God?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 18, 2013 (Sun) Jer 38:4-6,8-10/Ps 40:2,3,4,18/Heb 12:1-4/Lk 12:49-53
August 19, 2013 (Mon) Jgs 2:11-19/Ps 106:34-40,43,44/Mt 19:16-22
August 20, 2013 (Tues) Jgs 6:11-24/Ps 85:9,11-14/Mt 19:23-30
August 21, 2013 (Wed) Jg 9:6-15/Ps 21:2-7/Mt 20:1-16
August 22, 2013 (Thur) Jgs 29-39/Ps 40:5,7-10/Mt 22:1-14
August 23, 2013 (Fri) Ru 1:1,3-6,14-16,22/Ps 146:5-10/Mt 22:34-40
August 24, 2013 (Sat) Rv 21:9-14/Ps 145:10-13,17,18/Jn 1:45-51
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
