August 17, 2025 - 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
This Sunday’s readings remind us that the Gospel is not always comfortable. In Jeremiah 38, the prophet’s faithfulness lands him in a muddy cistern. He speaks the truth God gives him, and for that he faces rejection and danger. Yet God raises up an unlikely rescuer, Ebed-melech, to pull him from the pit. Fidelity to God can bring conflict—but also His quiet, decisive care.
The letter to the Hebrews urges us to “persevere in running the race,” keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. The Christian life is not a leisurely stroll—it’s an endurance race marked by resistance, sacrifice, and a call to lay aside the weight of sin. Like Jeremiah, we may feel the pressure of opposition, but we are not running alone.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus speaks startling words: “I have come to set the earth on fire… Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” This is not a call to violence, but a recognition that His message cuts to the heart. True discipleship forces a choice: will we stand with Christ even when it strains relationships, challenges our comfort, or invites misunderstanding? Following Jesus means allowing His fire—the fire of truth, mercy, and holiness—to ignite our lives. That fire will burn away complacency and light the path for others. Yes, it may bring division, but it also brings the only peace that lasts: peace rooted in God’s will. It is about our personal choice for Christ, with following him with total trust that comes from experience of his presence and power in our lives without looking into what others decide for themselves. It is about belonging to the one who gave everything to save me. The fire that Jesus brings it is the fire of love that transforms us from within to be his joyful followers. Jesus alone suffices, as St. Theresa said.
This week, let us ask the Lord for courage—courage to witness His truth with our lives like Jeremiah, to run with perseverance like the saints before us, and to welcome the refining fire Christ longs to set ablaze in our hearts.
We thank the Lord for the safe return of our youth and young adults from the Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome. We will invite them to give a witness of their experience to our Parish community on the end of summer. We pray for all children, youth and young adults as they are finishing their summer vacation, may they all encounter God in their time of rest with their families and friends.
God bless everyone always!!!
Fr. Stan
