Faith that Disturbs and Transforms

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 17, 2025

Readings: Jeremiah 38:4–6, 8–10; Psalm 40:2–4, 18; Hebrews 12:1–4; Luke 12:49–53

Sometimes faith unsettles us. We are rattled by the very faith that we have when we are in the troubled waters. We call it "faith crisis." The undimmed faith is the one that can withstand the strong winds of doubt and disbelief. We are tossed by the fear of imminent fall or a longer period of suffering in our lives. There is no other cure or remedy except accepting what life is all about. To overcome the fear of doubt and suffering, we must inculcate in ourselves a strong sense of faith in a God in whom we put our trust. The liturgical readings for this Sunday do exactly what we have in mind. Prophet Jeremiah suffered from his own people and yet he overcame the fear of doubt and faith in Yaweh, who had called him to do His Will. Jesus puts very strongly that aspect of division which would occur because of faith in him. The letter to the Hebrews points to those people who have struggled to keep their faith and yet were successful and now enjoy the heavenly realm. In sum, all the readings encourage us to keep our focus and attention on Him and Him alone. 

1. God’s Rescue in the Darkest Pits

We see prophet Jeremiah in Ch. 38 being thrown into a cistern not because he had committed a crime, but because he dared to speak God’s truth in a time when it was unwelcome. He stood for God's justice. He spoke the truth. Unfortunately, truth hurts. Sadly, Jeremiah’s fidelity towards God is not rewarded with applause but with persecution. Poor prophet was always at the receiving end. St Oscar Romero said. "We know that every effort to improve society…is an effort that God blesses; that God wants; that God demands of us."

However, the truth is that God never lets his servants down. Those who trust Him are raised. God comes to Jeremiah's rescue in the person of Ebed-melech, who pulls him out of the cistern. There are always pits everywhere, which are dark and deadly. They might turn to us the darkest pits of life In fact, God sends rescuers—often from unexpected places. It is not always those who received help from us who will come to our rescue. And yet God knows whom to send us at the right moment, the right people.

2. Running the Race with Eyes Fixed on Christ

The letter to the Hebrews (12:1–4) shifts our gaze to the “great cloud of witnesses” who have endured before us and have received the glory. They have gone through pain and suffering, persecution and torture. And yet they are our models, inspiration and stand tall before us. Just like them, we are told to run our race with perseverance, patience, and putting our complete trust in God, our Lord. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we must run the race of life, including our rat race, which is often stressful and painful.

Christian living is not a stroll in a garden—it is a marathon through storms, hills, and fierce winds. Christian discipleship means shedding the weights that slow us down—sins, evil, grudges, distractions, jealousies, wickedness—and finding the stamina to keep moving forward, even when the world pulls us in the opposite direction.

3. The Holy Disturbance of the Gospel

In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 12, Jesus shocks us with the words: “I have come to bring fire on the earth… Do you think I have come to bring peace? No, but division.” The fire is not one of destruction, but of change, purification and transformation. It is the fire of truth that exposes lies, the fire of love that consumes selfishness, the fire of the Spirit that compels action to bring change around us. And that fire will inevitably cause division, misunderstanding—not because God delights in conflict, but because truth challenges comfort, and love demands conversion.

For Christian living today, this means we cannot reduce faith to something polite, nostalgic, private, and unnoticeable. Following Christ will disturb us, unsettle our surroundings, and sometimes alienate us from those who do not share our faith convictions. This is what is happening today. We will have to pay our price for this. But this disturbance is holy—it wakes us from complacency and drives us toward deeper compassion, greater courage, and unwavering hope. To overcome the fear in the wake of these things, Christ’s fire must burn within us. Certainly, the “cloud of witnesses” and the Spirit of God will always inspire us and strengthen us. 

Questions for self-reflection:

1. Who are the “cloud of witnesses” in my life—people whose faith inspires me to persevere?
2. Do I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus in life’s storms, or do I get distracted by the “rat race” around me?
3. What “pits” in life have I experienced, and how have I seen God send help—sometimes from unexpected people?
4. When the world pulls me in the opposite direction, where do I draw my stamina to keep running the race of faith?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, set my heart on fire with Your love. Give me the courage to speak Your truth even when it is unwelcome, the perseverance to run the race when it is hard, and the faith to trust You when the world resists Your ways. Let my life burn brightly for You. I make this prayer in Jesus our Lord,  Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

15 August 2025