May the Lord give you grace, peace and health in the Holy Spirit. It is 14th August 2022. We celebrate the 20th Sunday of the ordinary time.
We reflect on Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4 and Luke 12:49-53.
Peace comes with a price of sacrifice, faithful discipleship, and loyalty. We all have journeys to travel, destinations to reach, goals to achieve, and relationships to nurture. If our eyes, minds, and focus are fixed on Jesus, everything is going to be all right no matter how vulnerable, weak, and exhausted we might look at this point. No one can get rid of us unless God wants it. Satisfaction does not just come by from the desired dream, and a career but from living a life that pleases God.
Setting the world on fire with love, hope and peace, we can burn down the thorns and thistles that encroach the minds and maps of human frontiers.
The more loyal to God and the Church, the clumsier and more destructive we seem to look in the sight of the world. No matter what the other considers us for standing for truth, justice, and peace, we need to cling to it even if it costs our life and the significant connections with our families and friends.
In the first reading, people wanted to get rid of Jeremiah for his message and preaching that disturbed the conscience of the people. They went to extent of throwing him into a dry well, yet God protected him. Fighting falsehood, sin and evil within us and around us is not a peaceful endeavour. By the power of the Holy Spirit, and the unwavering attention of Jesus, we can deal with and discipline the untamable elements in and around us.
The second reading strengthens us to focus our complete attention on Jesus. “Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:2).
Just like the Lord, no matter who stood against His ideals and values, yet He stood firm to the end, let us continue to run towards the glory and blessing. The purpose of the Lord’s presence is to set the fire that brings a change in the heart, humanity, and homelands. Let us not just remain contented with the Baptism we have received. We all need to be baptized in the flames of love that make this world come close to God. Flames of love are not destructive, but it has the power to quench the thirst of human hearts. May the Lord help us extinguish the flames of selfishness, sin, indifference, and all divisions. God bless you.