This Sunday is the 20th in Ordinary Time. Fr. Daniel Harrington writes that Luke’s Gospel reading, "presents three initially puzzling sayings of Jesus. He proclaims that he has come to light a fire on earth, to undergo a baptism of death and to bring division rather than peace. What happened to angels singing about peace on earth and Jesus the prince of peace?" Fr. John Donahue notes that "this harshness has a precedent in the vocation of Old Testament prophets, who were distinguished from those false prophets who supported unjust kings and structures by proclaiming peace and prosperity. Jeremiah states twice, ’They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace’ (6:14; 8:10-12), and Ezekiel compares false prophetic messages of peace to covering a wall with whitewash (13:10)." There was no 20th Sunday in OT in 2004, so there is no reflection from Sr. Dianne Bergant available this week. Tim Reidy, Online Editor
Word Columns for August 19
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