Word Wide Open: The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - 8/14/22

First Reading (Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

In those days, the princes said to the king:

"Jeremiah ought to be put to death;

he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city,

and all the people, by speaking such things to them;

he is not interested in the welfare of our people,

but in their ruin." 

King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power";

for the king could do nothing with them. 

And so they took Jeremiah

and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah,

which was in the quarters of the guard,

letting him down with ropes. 

There was no water in the cistern, only mud,

and Jeremiah sank into the mud.

Ebed-melech, a court official,

went there from the palace and said to him:

"My lord king,

these men have been at fault

in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah,

casting him into the cistern. 

He will die of famine on the spot,

for there is no more food in the city." 

Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite

to take three men along with him,

and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before

he should die.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why are people often persecuted for the faith?

Second Reading (Hebrews 12:1-4)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

Brothers and sisters:

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us

and persevere in running the race that lies before us

while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,

the leader and perfecter of faith. 

For the sake of the joy that lay before him

he endured the cross, despising its shame,

and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. 

Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,

in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 

In your struggle against sin

you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What does it mean to be a witness? How does sin cling to us?

Gospel (Luke 12:49-53)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I have come to set the earth on fire,

and how I wish it were already blazing! 

There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,

and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? 

No, I tell you, but rather division. 

From now on a household of five will be divided,

three against two and two against three;

a father will be divided against his son

and a son against his father,

a mother against her daughter

and a daughter against her mother,

a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What does it mean that Jesus came to set the world on fire? What is the division Jesus is talking about? Are we meant to be separated from our families?