Twentieth Sunday of the Year: C: August 17, 2025

 THE PROPHETIC MISSION OF A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

Introduction: 'I came to cast fire on earth.. I came, not to bring peace, but the sword.' Fire and sword - strange words to hear coming from Jesus. Traditional weapons of torture, which were widely used in the past to subdue the enemies. But we don't expect Jesus to use them. Nor did He. When James and John wanted to bring down fire on a Samaritan village, who did not want the presence of Jesus and His disciples, He flatly refuses them to do so. And when Peter drew his sword in the garden, Jesus tells him to put it away. Hence, these words are not to be taken literally but metaphorically. Yet they stand for something very real and strong in Jesus. Not only do the terms 'fire' and 'sword' stand for something in Himself, they also stand for something about His message. It causes disruption. It brings division. There is no greater disrupter of the 'peace' than the one who preaches justice and truth. In the first reading today, we do have a great example in Prophet Jeremiah.

First Reading: Jeremiah 38: 4 to 6 and 8 to 10

Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 1 to 4

Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 49 to 53

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. A detailed account of the various persecutions and innumerable sufferings faced by Jeremiah is given. He is accused of treason by his bitter enemies. They try to destroy him. They put him in a well deep down covered in mud and water up to his knees. They torture him because he speaks against injustice, evil and many sins committed by the chosen people to God. However, the Lord God protects him from all harm and saves him. 

   *Second reading is from the letter to Hebrews. All who follow Christ are exhorted to persevere in their faith regardless of the cost. They are urged to resist all temptations to sin till the last drop their blood. They are to model themselves on Christ their saviour and Master. 

'I came to cast fire on earth.'                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus warns His disciples and all of us that following Him a very challenging and difficult task. It brings division in the life of  believers. So they are asked to declare their loyalties and get their priorities right.  Discipleship brings division within the family and in the community. Jesus speaks about a divided house: Three against two and two against three. There will be divisions between father and son, mother and daughter and so on. When we stand for the values of Christ, family ties may get broken and relationships may get strained. Hence, a true follower of the Lord is a threat: A source of division, a light that shows up in the darkness. Such a person will face opposition from those who want to remain in darkness. Through today's Gospel, Jesus exhorts us that as Christians, we have to stand up against all evil: All that leads us away from genuine love of God and love of our neighbour. Jesus demands such prophetic commitments from everyone of us. In this context, Helder Camera says: "When I give bread to the poor, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no bread, they call me a communist." Blessed Oscar Romero, the martyred Arch Bishop of El Salvadore says: "If they kill all your priests and Bishops, each one of you should become God's microphones, each of you should become a prophet; I do not believe in death without resurrection."

Conclusion: Jesus comes to set people's hearts on fire. He brings the warmth of the Father's love to those who live in the coldness of rejection and pain. He brings sword of division wherever falsity reigns. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to come out of the shadows and live in the sunshine of His Kingdom. Let us have the courage and the perseverance to do it. 

May the Lord Jesus who urges us to continue His prophetic mission in the world by standing against all forms of injustice and oppressions, bless you and give you the courage to be His true disciple. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, August 17, 2025." Thanks.)

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year: C: August 10, 2025

 THE VIRTUES OF FAITHFULNESS AND READINESS

Introduction: Today in the liturgy of the Word, we are reminded that death often comes in sudden and unexpected ways. Jesus says to His disciples: "You must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." According to William Barclay, Jesus' words can be interpreted in two ways. In the narrower sense, they refer to His Second Coming at the end of times. In the broader sense, they refer to the time of our death when Jesus will summon us from this life. Whatever be the case, we are warned to be always ready - to have our belts fastened and our lamps burning ready - like servants awaiting their master's return.  

First Reading: Wisdom 18: 6 to 9

Second Reading: Hebrews 11: 1 to 2 and 8 to 19

Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 32 to 48

   *First Reading is from the book of Wisdom. The people of Israel are reminded of how the Lord God rescued their ancestors from the slavery of Egypt. The message is one of hope. It promises that those who put their trust in the Lord God will not be disappointed. The chosen people of God are encouraged to persevere in their faith. An assurance is given that just as the Lord God rescued the people of Israel in the past, He will certainly save those who put their trust in Him. 

   *Second reading is from the letter to the Hebrews. People of God are reminded about the great and unshakable faith of Abraham. Because of his deep faith in God, Abraham is rightly called the father of faith. The faith of Abraham leads him to set out without knowing where he was heading to. He totally trusts in the providence of God and looks forward to a city built by Him. Hence, in the life of Abraham, we have a marvelous and shinning example of living faith and total faithfulness to God. 

Many blessings to the faithful servant                                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In the first part, Jesus tells His disciples about the heavenly treasure which cannot be stolen or destroyed. We are urged to look for that treasure in our lives. In the second part, Jesus narrates the parable of the faithful servant who is always ready and watchful whatever may be the time of his master's return. The master, unexpectedly and without warning, comes like a thief who comes at any time of the night. The element of surprise is his weapon. So also, the (second) coming of the Lord will happen at a time we least expect. We must be prepared to welcome Him  whenever He chooses to come. Such a faithful servant will be greatly rewarded by the master. The master in turn will put him in-charge of all His possessions. But if the servant is found wanting and unfaithful in his duties, he will receive a very severe punishment. Jesus thus exhorts all of us to take our life seriously and to do our duties faithfully at all times. In this context, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "It is more important to be faithful than to be successful." A well known educationalist Erich Fromm says: "Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others." Joyce Meyer says: "Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right over and over and over and over." 

Conclusion: Today's Gospel contains the warning that Jesus gives to His disciples and us. He urges us to be like good and faithful servants ever watchful for the return of their master. If we take this warning in the context of death, for most people it is just not possible to be ready for death in the sense of having all the loose ends neatly tied up and well prepared. Death frequently comes as the great intruder and disrupter of a person's life and plans. It comes when least expected. What matters at that moment is our faithfulness to the Word of God and our readiness to meet our Lord and creator.

May the Lord Jesus, who wants us to be faithful to His teachings, bless you with His abundant blessings and give the due reward for your faithful service to the Lord and to humanity. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, August 10, 2025." Thanks.)