Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 14, 2022 Cycle C
Fr. José Maria Cortes, F.S.C.B.
Pastor of the Church of St. Peter, North St. Paul, Minnesota

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Sunday Reading Meditations

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12:49). This blazing fire is love, ardent zeal and passion for the glory of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit himself.

Jesus was anxious to receive the baptism with which he had to be baptized and suffered great anguish until it was accomplished! (cf. Lk 12:50). He was referring to his death on the cross and the “baptism in the Spirit” at Pentecost.

John the Baptist had prophesied one who would “baptize…with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16). This combination of fire and baptism (cf. Lk 24:49) portends the tongues of fire that Jesus sent upon the apostles at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:3–4).

Today’s second reading says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (cf. Heb 12:1), the saints, whose hearts burn with Jesus’ fire.

St. Ignatius of Loyola often told departing Jesuit missionaries: “Go, set the world on fire!” Saints are consumed by zeal for their missions. St. Catherine of Siena is often quoted to have said: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” St. Philip Neri received the gift of the Holy Spirit as a globe of fire, which entered into his mouth and lodged in his breast, filling him with intense divine love and contagious joy for the rest of his life.

We should follow the example of the saints and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, “the leader and perfecter of faith” (Heb 12:2), who kindles in us the fire of Divine love.

The first reading says that Jeremiah suffered persecution, was rejected by the authorities and people of Jerusalem, and was thrown into an empty cistern. Aflame with God’s love, he said: “[…] it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!” (Jer 20:9).

Jesus is a sign of contradiction. In the Gospel, he speaks about the divisions created by those who reject the witnesses of the truth. In times of persecution, God comes to our aid. Jeremiah is drawn out of the cistern. Today’s responsorial psalm says: “I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me. The LORD heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps” (Ps 40:2–3).

As today’s collect prayer says, a fire is kindled in us when we love God in all things and above all things. The fire of the Holy Spirit purifies our hearts and fills us with joy and peace.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.  Amen.