20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4
Jeremiah’s experience reminds us that following God’s Word is not without cost. He was thrown into the cistern because he proclaimed the truth, and Christ Himself endured the Cross for our salvation. Likewise, the Letter to the Hebrews exhorts us to persevere in the struggle against sin, even when it involves sacrifice or suffering. To be faithful to the Word is to accept that truth will not always be welcomed, and that the path of discipleship requires courage, endurance, and trust in God’s strength rather than our own. Yet, suffering for the sake of fidelity becomes redemptive: it unites us more closely with Christ, who endured hostility for our sake, and it bears witness that sin does not have the final word. True discipleship, then, is not measured by comfort but by steadfastness in trial, allowing our struggles to be conformed to Christ’s saving passion. Let’s reflect: How willing am I to endure suffering, rejection, or discomfort in order to remain faithful to God’s Word, trusting that even in trials His truth and love will prevail?
Don Giorgio