"Persevere in running the race that lies before us" ~ A Reflection on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Jer 38:4-6, 8-10

Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b)

Heb 12:1-4

Lk 12:49-53

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews realized that life is not always a bed of roses.  We find ourselves in turmoil from relationships that have been broken; we learn that we have major health problems that will not be easily resolved; we may find ourselves and our family homeless and hungry... and sometimes we can barely cope with the life that God has given us to live.

In Luke's Gospel, we find Jesus reminding us of this very thing when he declares that he has not come to establish peace on the earth.  Instead, he speaks of division:  division among families, division among individuals.  These divisions will come about because not everyone is going to accept and believe in him as the Anointed One of God.  There will be strife and misunderstanding and people will die because of it.

We read in the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, how he was thrown into the cistern to suffocate and die in the mud there, because his enemies wanted to be rid of him.  However, one of the court officials brought his plight to the attention of the king and Jeremiah was released and saved from death.  We must never give up hope...    

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. To remember how he endured the cross for the sake of the joy of the Resurrection.  That despite what we also may have to endure in life, we hope and trust that the Lord will be there for us too.  The psalmist recognized that the Lord hears our cries and responds...

"He drew me out of the pit of darkness...

...he put a new song into my mouth...
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the Lord thinks of me.

...You are my help and my deliverer..."     

   


~ Image Source - Silhouette of woman trail running, Colorado by Bob Winsett