18 August 201320th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In order to understand his words, we must place them in their proper context, an indispensable part of all scripture study. Jesus and his disciples are on the way to Jerusalem. “Journey” is one of the key themes of Luke’s gospel and serves as a backdrop for Jesus’ teaching on the cost of discipleship. Along the way, there will be hard work to do, work that will foreshadow his suffering and death. The minds and hearts of his disciples will need to be set on fire, their souls refined and purified that they may accept their mission. They, as Jesus, will meet with disappointment and rejection as they learn the true cost of discipleship. The words of Jesus produce controversy not only for unbelievers, but within the community of the faithful and even between family members. Moreover, we too, as Christian disciples who have been baptized into Christ's death, will be asked to embrace suffering as we face challenges--often within our very households.Jesus comes to bring comfort to the afflicted – a role we know and cherish. But Jesus comes
also to bring affliction to the comfortable – a role we are usually reluctant to take on.
How are we, today, called not only to comfort the afflicted but also to confront the over-comfortable?Do you recognize yourself the uncomfortable challenges of Christian baptism?
And if we confront (ourselves or our brothers and sisters in Christ), do we confront with Christian charity?
Do we evangelize, and evangelize with kindness?
The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.
