September 14.2025
September 07, 2025
Deacon Ken’s Homily for 20th Sunday OTC
August 17, 2025
The first reading and the Gospel today gives us pause to reflect about the harsh realities of people who become divided. From Jeremiah it is a division between himself and the elite of the Israelites. From the Gospel it is a division of those who follow Jesus and those who don’t.
Most generally, I like to start my homilies with a short story which I think reflects what the readings are about, or how the Gospel connects to our lives. I sat at the computer and googled “short stories about division. This is what I got. A group of five kids had eighteen sandwiches to divide among themselves. How could the kids divide the sandwiches evenly? That’s not the kind of division Jeremiah and the Gospel are telling us about. Then, I googled short stories about in-laws, and this is what I got: A husband and wife who were traveling. They had gotten into a bit of a tif as they were going along and had not talked to each other for quite a while. As they were traveling along, while passing a pig farm, the man turned to his wife and said: “Relatives of yours?” Without hesitation, the wife replied: “Yes, those are my in-laws”.
In Jeremiah’s day, the city of Jerusalem was surrounded and was being besieged by the Chaldean’s who were a sect of the Babylonians. They also heard that Pharaoh was on the march towards Jerusalem also. The Israelite King at the time, Zedekiah, sent word for Jeremiah to come and see him. King Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to speak to the Lord for them asking what should they do. Jeremiah asked God what they should do. God said that Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Chaldean’s capturing the city and destroying it with fire. Jeremiah told the King that the Israelites should surrender which would save many lives. Jeremiah’s prophecy demoralized the citizenry, and most especially the Israelite army. This is how Jeremiah got on everybody’s bad side. It’s how Jeremiah ended up in the cistern! The Israelites didn’t listen to Jeremiah because they were too busy doing their own thing, touting their own deeds and worldly successes, too busy to follow God’s commands even though they professed to follow God. Sure enough, Jeremiah’s prophecy came true. Jerusalem was conquered, and then destroyed.
Jesus’ entire adult life was nothing short of division. You’ll recall that Jesus began a new way of teaching. His teaching was all about love. He used words that Pharisees and Sadducees were not used to hearing like: “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more”. Jesus said” I am the Living bread that came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world to come. When he had finished speaking, some walked away. Had they stayed and tasted that Eucharist, they would never have walked away. The Eucharist caused division then and still does today, for those who believe and those who don’t. Joseph of Arimathea was a Pharisee. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, a respected and wealthy man, and a secret follower of Jesus. Nicodemus, who was also a Pharisee came to Jesus in secret, asking Jesus how an old man could be born again. Pharisees were most certainly at odds with Jesus. Nowadays, people want good thoughts or good vibes instead of prayers or blessings from God. I fear division will exist until the end of the age!
The reading from Hebrews tells us how to combat the division Jeremiah and the Gospel talks about. We must rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eye fixed on Jesus. Jesus endured the cross that you and I might live with him in eternal peace void of all division. Keep your eyes on Jesus and live.
Deacon Ken Stewart