Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time ‘C’

Today’s Scripture readings focus on having the courage to stand up for what’s right and to live out our faith, even if it means going against the crowd or facing rejection, hardship, or even suffering. 

In the First Reading, the Prophet Jeremiah gets into trouble because he speaks the message God gives him - even though it’s not what people want to hear. Jeremiah tells the king the hard truth about surrendering to Babylon, and for that, he’s thrown into a muddy pit and left to die, considered a traitor by some. Jeremiah's story shows us that doing the right thing, or saying what’s true, isn’t always popular - it can even be dangerous. 

In the Second Reading, Paul encourages early Christians to stick with their faith, even when it means being rejected by their own community or facing mistreatment. Paul’s message is clear: when it gets tough to follow Jesus, don’t give up. 

In the Gospel, Jesus has some surprising words: “I have come to bring fire to the earth,” He says. He knows that his message of love, justice, and mercy can cause division, even among close family members. Sometimes, when we really follow Jesus, we will face conflict with others, because not everyone will want to go along with the way he asks us to live. Real, lasting peace takes honesty, sacrifice, and a willingness to stand up for what matters, even when it’s hard. Sometimes, things get uncomfortable or challenging before they get better and more whole. 

As Christians, we talk about the “fire” of faith, meaning the passion, energy, and strength God gives us through the Holy Spirit. At our Baptism, we received the “light of Christ” - a reminder to keep our faith burning bright. At Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us strength to keep going, even when we face challenges. Our job is to let our faith “set the world on fire” by inspiring others to care, serve, and love. 

That fire can also help us burn away what is not good in ourselves: our selfishness, pride, or fear so, the best version of ourselves shines through. Like gold being purified in a fire, our hearts can become more pure and loving when we let God work in us. 

Having faith isn’t always easy. Sometimes it will set us apart or even lead to hard choices. But when we let God’s fire burn in us, we can have the courage to stand up for what’s right, help those in need, and bring real hope and healing to the world, even if it means standing out from the crowd.