Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading — They took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern (Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10).
Psalm — Lord, come to my aid! (Psalm 40).
Second Reading — Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-4).
Gospel — I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing (Luke 12:49-53).

PROPHETS
We reflect upon the voice of the prophet in this Sunday’s readings. We hear of the suffering and the rescue of Jeremiah. We hear how Jesus anticipates his suffering and death. As with Jeremiah and Jesus, the prophets were sent by God to the leaders and people of Israel. A prophet is one who speaks truth to the powerful, exposing their darker hidden motives and injustices. The prophet presents a way forward that aligns with God’s purposes. A prophet can force people away from a comfortable neutrality or indifference. The prophet creates an urgency to make a choice: Are we content with the status quo, or are we to change our ways and pursue a new and better path? Today, we may also ask, how do we identify and respond to prophets of our time? How might we provide a prophetic voice in our Church and in our world?
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