The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 17, 2025
Jesus’s words today don’t bring much comfort. But our comfort isn’t the goal of faith in Christ. Following Christ will call us to do many uncomfortable things. Recall some of the Gospel readings we’ve heard these past several weeks. Worried about breaking societal norms, the priest and the Levite bypassed the stranger on the road, beaten and robbed.
But it was the Samaritan who went out of his way, above and beyond, to follow the law and love his neighbor as himself. When he saw a great multitude in need of food, Jesus did not send them away or shame them for their lack. Instead, he called everyone to bring forward their embarrassingly meager resources, even if they felt their gift inadequate.
With the psalmist, we cry, “Lord, come to my aid!” so that we may use our Spirit-given baptismal power, even when it’s hard, and move ever closer to accomplishing Christ’s mission on earth.
Each of us has a comfort zone we must leave if we want to follow Jesus to Jerusalem. It may require stepping into the awkwardness of introducing ourselves to a stranger at Mass or gathering the courage to speak up when a family member or colleague makes a racist comment.
It may be that none of this will bring us comfort, and some of it may even cause conflict and division among those we love. But with the psalmist, we cry, “Lord, come to my aid!” so that we may use our Spirit-given baptismal power, even when it’s hard, and move ever closer to accomplishing Christ’s mission on earth.
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