Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 30, 2020
My sisters and brothers in Christ,
Expectations are very much a part of our life. We put expectations on people and people put expectations on us. Sometimes these expectations are fulfilled and there are times when they are not. Our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah goes back to 600 B.C. It seems that the prophet Jeremiah expected that the people would be grateful to him for speaking God’s word to them but they only hated him. He was ridiculed by the people and thrown into jail. They even tried to kill him by throwing him into a well. We hear him complaining to God when he said:” You duped me! You tricked me, God!”
Jesus’ faithfulness to his mission would bring him suffering too, but he did not feel tricked. He was well aware of what was going to happen. In today’s gospel, we hear him warning his disciples ahead of time.
As we find ourselves in this election year, we hear politicians telling us how they are going to solve all our problems if we vote for them. Jesus is telling us if we follow him it’s going to bring us problems. “Whoever wishes to come after me must take up his cross and follow me.” Problems come with being human. Problems and crosses are part of everyone’s life. When we follow Jesus, he helps us to deal with them easily. Let us always rely on Jesus, especially when difficulties come our way. He never “tricks” us.
God bless you and keep you safe.
View More