Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
  • Hebrews 12:1-4
  • Luke 12:49-53

It was already a hectic morning at the Pauline house.  Saint, the gigantic Saint Bernard dog, had gotten loose from his backyard kennel, and both Vincent and Peter had to run down the block after him.  Both of the boys came back with “doggy dirt” all over their clean pants.  Upstairs, the girls were still fussing with their hair for Mass this morning.  Mom had to change outfits because one of the heels broke off the new red shoes she had planned to wear.  It was one thing after the other!  They all wanted to look nice for Mass this morning, but things just kept happening!

“Remember, patience is a virtue!” Dad kept saying as he went from one frustrated family member to the other.

Soon, it was getting time for Mass, and the family had not looked over the Scripture reading for this morning.

“Kids!  Quick!  Everyone into the living room!” Dad called out.

Vincent was the first one to detect the urgency in his dad’s voice.

“Excuse me, Dad, but isn’t patience a virtue!” Vincent teased him.

Dad could only laugh.  “You are absolutely right, Son.  My words of urgency contradict my intent of joyfully reading the Gospel!”

“Con-ta-what?” little Hillary asked.

Dad swept his 4-year-old daughter into his arms.  “It’s “con-tra-dict,” Hillary!” he told her.  “It’s when you mean one thing, yet you say another.”

“In fact, our Gospel reading for today talks about Jesus saying things that are hard for people to understand,” Mom added.  “Let’s see if you are surprised by some of the words of Jesus.”

Mom opened the Bible this morning and read from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12.  Jesus tells His disciples that He has come not to establish peace, but rather division!”

Everyone looked at each other when Mom was finished reading. 

Finally, Vincent spoke up.  “Okay, you are REALLY going to have to explain this one!”

Dad could only smile.  He remembered hearing this passage when he was young, too.  It also left him with a lot of questions.

“Let’s start with the blazing part!” Vincent added.

So Dad began.  “Well, you see, Jesus doesn’t want the earth to LITERALLY be set on fire!  When Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire,” (Luke 12:49a) He is talking more about the transforming energy of God’s love!  Jesus wants all of us to be changed and converted to holiness.”

“So the hotter the better!” Vincent laughed.  Then his voice changed tone again.  “But that wasn’t the only thing that caught my ear!”

‘What was another one?” his Dad asked.

“What about the ‘peace’ part?” Vincent then asked.  “Jesus said he wants to bring division and not peace!  What’s that about?”

Again, Mr. Pauline completely understood the sense of frustration in his son’s voice.  He tried his best to explain this one.

“Well, you see, Vincent,” Dad said, “Jesus is not telling you that you get to fight with Peter, Ben, or your sisters.  Jesus is saying that the Gospel message is often rejected by others.  If we are to be true disciples and followers of Jesus, we need to stand firm in our beliefs.  We can’t be concerned when others make fun of us, call us fools, or take advantage of us when we live out the Gospel.  The friction and division comes when others don’t understand the faith and can’t accept it.”

“That’s right!” Mrs. Pauline agreed.  “We are to be witnesses of the faith even if it ‘ruffles other people’s feathers.’  Sometimes when we live out God’s love, we get rejected by others.  It is our duty to hold firm to the hand of Jesus and He will walk us through these times.”

“So that’s what a ‘con-ter-dictionary’ is?” Hillary asked.

“It’s contradiction, Sweetie!” Dad told his daughter.  “Jesus came into the world with a message of peace and love.  But, sometimes we have to be patient and help others understand it!”

“So patience really IS a virtue!” Vincent laughed.  “I think I understand this reading a bit better now.  You might say that it’s a ‘battle’ to bring peace to others!”

“Peace … battle!  It’s another contradiction!” Mary Clare added. 

“So, sometimes the words of the Gospel say one thing to our ears, yet their true wisdom helps us understand something bigger in our hearts!” Mom said.

“Let’s just remember that our walk with the Lord isn’t always an easy one,” Dad smiled.  “But it has everlasting rewards!”

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – CDownload

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