Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we begin the twelfth week in ordinary time of the year. The first reading of today’s mass is from chapter 20 of the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, verses 10-13. I want to encourage you to read the whole chapter. Jeremiah had come to a very difficult period in his life and ministry. He was rejected by his people, scourged by the priests, and put in the stocks. In his loneliness and frustration, he turned to the Lord and cried his heart out. He cursed the day of his birth and said to the Lord, “you have duped me, Lord, and I let myself be duped. You were too strong for me, and you triumphed” (20:7). He said to the Lord that he would never again speak his word or mention His name.

Then something amazing happened to him as he cried out his frustrations to the Lord. He rediscovered the presence of God in his life like “fire burning in my heart…imprisoned in my bones” (20:9), in the midst of all his disappointments. With feelings of terror on every side, denounced by friends and threatened with vengeance, he proclaimed, “the Lord is with me like a mighty champion” (20:11). Many men and women in the Bible and in our great spiritual tradition have gone through similar experience. Remember how Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and others like them stood before the Lord and even questioned the wisdom of God in difficult and frustrating situations. Jesus himself expressed his frustration to the father, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me.” (Mathew 27:46)

In our responsorial Psalm today (Psalm 69), we hear the Psalmist lamenting the suffering of the innocent. He speaks of exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation, etc. In the second part of the psalm, the psalmist prays that the enemies will be punished for all to see. Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all will be set right. He prays for a “time of favor” out of the “bounteous kindness” of the Lord.

In the second reading of our mass today (Romans 5:12-15), we read Paul’s reflections on the abundance of Grace that is available to us. The grace of God and the gracious gift of Jesus overflow for all people. He had already spoken about the Grace of God being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit even when we were sinner (Romans 5:5-11). God is present to us even in our sinfulness. The Gospel reading of today’s mass speaks of Jesus telling his disciples about the hardship and problems they will face. He called them to be prepared to face testing times like their master. Jesus encouraged them to be fearless and trust in God’s personal care.

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the links below…