Sunday Readings - Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

One thing I found interesting while studying to become Catholic was the idea that we are baptized as priest, prophet and king. Today's readings start with Jeremiah, whose attitude is repellent to modern ears. He sounds paranoid and vindictive, especially to those who have not read his story. Like Socrates two hundred years later, he gave an unwelcome message at a time of crisis, and suffered the same fate at the hands of the State.

We, too, are called to share in the prophetic office of Christ. Others have said rightly that we need not preach with words, but act in a way that proclaims the Good News; but the Good News is not viewed as good while the world or the country is in crisis. More than crisis, the world is still at war, with itself, with conflicting values and with God. Every murder, every terrorist act, even every unkind word bears witness to this ongoing conflict in which the world refuses to accept the better way, and continues to resist it because it is not forced.

In the Psalm, the verse about being an outcast and a stranger, even to one's own brothers, sisters or children, provides the basis for the Jesus' admonition that our enemies will be of our own household. A few days ago, I spoke with a landscaper who was disappointed that none of his three sons wanted to take over the business. The psalmist complains that his children do not share his love for the Lord, so that even family ties are of no help. Perhaps now more than any other time, the children have no interest in receiving the gift of faith from parents. No doubt this is the parents' fault in the majority of cases, but it is no less heartbreaking.

Jeremiah and Jesus, as well as Paul, offer hope. Even though others may fall away, or even set themselves against us, we will triumph. Jesus says, "Fear no one." God is watching over us. In the end, our relationship with God will not depend on what anyone else did or said. We are called to walk with the Master, and his path leads through suffering and death, but also resurrection.

Read the text here.