20th Sunday C
Jer 38:4-6, 8-10
Jeremiah faces accusations of treason for advising Judah to surrender to Babylon, which angers the king’s court and leads to a call for his death (v4). His messages demoralize the soldiers, suggesting a despair that affects their morale. Confined to the military guard, Jeremiah’s survival is seen as ominous. King Zedekiah’s weak character reflects his reign (v5), and ironically, Jeremiah is saved by Ebed-melech, a foreigner (vv8f). This marks Jeremiah’s second imprisonment, reminiscent of Joseph’s story (Gen 37:20-28).
Heb 12:1-4
The author of Hebrews cites faithful ancestors to motivate Christians to persevere, urging them to cast aside sinful inclinations and pursue their spiritual race (v1). Christ is presented as the ultimate model, whose assurance of vindication by the Father enabled him to endure suffering. Believers are encouraged to draw strength from Jesus’ trials, reminding them they too may face similar struggles (v3).
Lk 12:49-53
In this passage, Jesus discusses the hardships of his mission and its divisive impact on families (vv49f, 51ff). The ‘fire’ mentioned symbolizes purification, and his metaphorical ‘baptism’ refers to his impending death. Jesus desires for this sacrificial death to occur soon (v50). While he brings reconciliation between God and humanity, his message may lead to division rather than social peace, as seen in tensions within families (v51ff). This highlights the new relationships formed among disciples that transcend traditional family ties, with particular attention given to women’s concerns in the Lucan church.
In the gospel, Jesus speaks of his impending suffering and death, highlighting the divisions faith can create, even among family. The book of Hebrews offers hope, reminding us of God’s vindication of prophets like Jeremiah. Just as Jesus faced trials before reaching glory, we too can find hope in the promise of glory if we stay steadfast in our faith. Though the journey can be tough, faith provides solace and strength.
s1S#98 Fire
In the bible the word fire, אֵ֑ש (‘ēsh) in Hebrew, πῦρ (pyr) in Greek, is a common noun with the almost exclusive sense of fire used both literally and metaphorically. It is used as a vehicle for a divine theophany and revelation (Ex 3:2: the burning bush; Acts 7:30; Heb 12:18). But one of its more significant common uses refers to it as an instrument of divine judgment, (Gen 19:24: the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem and the temple in the hands of the Babylonians, (Jer 34:2; Ezek 5:4); or divine wrath, (Mt 3:12; Mk 9:43; John 15:6; Heb 10:27; 2 Pt 3:7; Jude 7; 1 Cor3:13; Rev 3:18, 14:10).
In the Gospel of Luke in particular, the first reference to fire connected to Jesus’ mission is in 3:16-17. In today’s gospel (12:49-53), the first of the series of comments is given regarding his own ministry-that his mission will entail hardship for himself (vv49f) and his followers (vv51ff). The fire figuratively connotes purification, discernment or discrimination, and judgment, all these, so that the proclamation of Jesus and his kingdom becomes indeed, a source of division, the separation of those who accept Jesus from the members of their own families who don’t- not peace but rather division.
Pope Benedict XVI writes that ‘recent theologians believe that Jesus himself is the fire which both burns and saves, the
Judge and Savior. The encounter with him is the decisive act of judgment, it burns us yet transforms and free us. Only through this painful encounter the power of his love sears through us like a flame, he heals us and saves us. (cf Spe Salvi #47)
Our commitment to Jesus may cause us to be persecuted as Jeremiah (38:4ff) experienced. It will cause us to struggle (Heb 12:1-4) but many had already preceded us in persevering. It may even cause us to turn our back on our own family as Jesus said but new family relations are now established among his disciples which transcends those of blood bonds (8:19f). May we remain steadfast in our faith no matter what for that is where we start in ‘keeping the fire ablaze’ which Jesus has started.
