Gospel: August 17, 2025
August 17, 2025 (Sunday)
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18
Lord, come to my aid!
1st Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Then the officials told the king, “This man should be put to death, because he is weakening the will of the fighting men and the people left in the city. In fact, he is not out to save the people but to do harm.” King Zedekiah said, “His life is in your hands for the king has no power against you.”
So they took Jeremiah and pushed him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, in the guard’s court. They lowered him by means of ropes. There was no water in the cistern but only mud; and Jeremiah sank into the mud. Ebedmelech went and spoke to him, “My lord king! These men have acted wickedly in all they did to Jeremiah the prophet. They threw him into the cistern where he will die.” So the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian: “Take three men with you from here, and draw Jeremiah the prophet out from the cistern before he dies.”
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
What a cloud of innumerable witnesses surround us! So, let us be rid of every encumbrance, and especially of sin, to persevere in running the race marked out before us. Let us look to Jesus, the founder of our faith, who will bring it to completion. For the sake of the joy reserved for him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and then, sat at the right of the throne of God. Think of Jesus, who suffered so many contradictions from evil people, and you will not be discouraged or grow weary. Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53
I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is finished! Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Lectio Divina:
“Christ and his word are the fire that enlightens and purifies.”
Read: Jeremiah’s words are perceived as a threat rather than a means to save the people, and so he is thrown into a muddy cistern to die. Hebrews encourages us to rid ourselves of everything that is contrary to the Gospel, and Jesus declares that he has come to set the world alight with his Word.
Reflect: Sometimes the truth is unwelcome news. Good intentions are misconstrued as meddling, or worse, they are seen as having an ulterior, self-serving motive. Likewise, the Good News of Jesus Christ can be an unwelcome call to a different way of life, which can lead to division in families and communities. However, the division occasioned by acceptance or rejection of the Good News is not to bring about a break-down in society. Rather, it is a catalyst to change, leading people to question the meaning of their existence, instead of remaining indifferent. And so, Christ and his Word are the fire that enlightens and purifies rather than destroys and breaks apart.
Pray: Meditate upon the situations of strife in your family life, your work, community or church. Ask for the openness to accept the truth and to stay true to Christ’s transforming way of love despite opposition.
Act: Be Christ’s instrument of change in your community by your acts of faith, justice and love.
