Gospel Reflection for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 14th – A new creation

Often the images we have of Jesus are very pleasant and nice; Jesus and the children, Jesus the good shepherd carrying a wounded lamb or Jesus who is teaching or healing. There is nothing wrong with these at all. However, the Jesus we meet in this Sunday’s gospel is very far removed from the nice and polite Jesus we perhaps know from our childhood days. In his own words, Jesus tells us that he has ‘come to set the earth on fire,’ and he wishes it ‘were already blazing!’ What could Jesus possibly mean by these apparently destructive words and message?

This Sunday’s gospel has a definite shock value to it. It names things we tend to avoid: fire, division and anguish. The message that Jesus speaks is not mild, gentle or timid. The message that Jesus offers us is life-changing, radical and has the power to transform our very lives. Jesus calls us to follow him; we have to respond in some way. The call of Jesus requires that we make some response, we can’t ignore the call.

We have to make a decision whether to follow Jesus or not. If we decide to follow Jesus, then our lives will be changed. He clearly spells out the cost of his good news and the cost of being his disciple. His coming brings ‘fire.’ His own ‘baptism’ causes him pain. His preaching and radical message causes division even within the same family. When Jesus speaks he doesn’t soften his message. Instead, he clearly spells out the cost of living his good news.

Some people will accept his message, others will not. His spoken words and actions put before us the choice we are asked to make if we are to faithfully follow him. In the scriptures we read that God is ‘making all things new.’ Through Jesus all things are made new, especially each of us.

The choice to embrace and welcome this new life is ours. If we say ‘yes’ to follow Jesus, then we are also called to be made new and transformed. It is through the Spirit of God that we are encouraged and made new. The Spirit of God is powerful and life-giving. Archbishop Oscar Romero reminds of this with these words, ‘The bible has a very meaningful expression; the Spirit makes all things new. We are the ones who grow old, and we want everything made to our own pattern. The Spirit is never old; the Spirit is always young.’

We are a missionary church not a static church. May each of us have the courage to open ourselves to the life changing message of Jesus.

•  Michael Moore OMI