Asking God’s help in times of trouble and distress...
Reflections on the readings for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 21, 2020): JER 20:10-13; PS 69:8-10,14,17,33-35; ROM 5:12-15; MT 10:26-33
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Whatever the anguish we feel or burdens we carry, if we entrust ourselves to Christ we can face them...
The readings for today ask us to look at the way hardships and difficulties of various kinds can overwhelm our lives with worry and distress. Jeremiah was personally attacked because he was doing what God wanted him to do. The prophet told people to repent and live up to their covenant with God – but they did not want to hear it. They denounced and persecuted him and Jeremiah turned to God for help and protection. Then we hear St. Paul remind the readers of his letter to the Christian community in Rome that sin and death became part of the human experience because of Adam. But now, because of Jesus, the power of sin and death has been broken. “For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many” (Romans 5:15).
Whatever the anguish we feel or burdens we carry, if we entrust ourselves to Christ we can face them with the assurance that we are not alone and we have an infinite future with Him. Jesus gave Himself up to save us from the consequences of evil and the permanency of death. Whatever suffering we may have to endure in this world, God’s grace is ours for the asking. And it will guide us all our days as we seek to obey His will and prepare ourselves for eternity with Him. The final victory belongs to our loving, merciful Lord – and to us.
