20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 38:4-6,​8-10
Psalm 39(40):2-4,18
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

WORDS ON FIRE

This Sunday brings us face to face with a jarring reality—one that’s all about division and upheaval, violence and raw emotion. It’s a powerful moment in the gospels that shakes us to our core, challenging the comforting image of Jesus we often cling to. We prefer the easygoing Jesus, the one who reassures and consoles, who always makes us feel good and never asks too much of us.

But today? Today we encounter a Jesus who is anything but tranquil. He stirs the pot, provokes thought, and even sends shivers down our spine. When he declares, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”, it’s far from a peaceful message. It’s an explosive declaration that evokes images of fierce flames and radical change—a transformative force so powerful it aims to obliterate the evil imbued in sin, leaving only the possibility of a complete rebirth.

And when Jesus challenges us with the question, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?”, he makes it crystal clear: embracing the gospel means stepping into a battlefield. If we genuinely align our lives with his teachings, we shouldn’t be surprised if we find ourselves facing hostility, even from those we hold most dear—like Jeremiah, who faced persecution and was cast into a cistern.

By choosing to walk with Jesus, we are pledging to stand firm against everything that runs counter to his mission of ushering in the reign of God. There’s no fence-sitting, no hiding in the crowd. “I have come to set the earth on fire!” It might not be the comforting message we crave, but the truth is undeniable: we’ve been forewarned, and it’s time to embrace the adventure ahead!

Fr Joseph Osho