20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025
I recently read a story by a woman named Susana, who grew up in a devout Catholic family.
Her parents were born and raised in conservative Catholic homes in Mexico, and faith was a central part of their lives.
But in recent years, political differences have driven a wedge between her and her mother.
They used to talk about childhood memories, dreams, and family life.
But now, every phone call seems to end up in an argument.
Susana has learned to share less and less about her own life just to keep the peace.
And yet… she still loves her mother deeply. She worries about her, helps her financially, and wants her to know her granddaughter.
That tension — loving someone and yet feeling divided from them — is exactly what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel.
His words make us sit up: “Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."
We call Him the Prince of Peace — and yet here He is, telling us that His mission will sometimes pull people apart.
He’s not telling us to go looking for fights. He’s not encouraging hostility.
But He is being honest: following Him — really following Him — will sometimes put us at odds with others, even those closest to us.
The Gospel calls us to truth, mercy, and a way of life that doesn’t always fit neatly with the values of the world.
And when those values clash, there’s a choice to be made — and that choice can bring division.
We see that in Jeremiah today. He’s thrown into a muddy cistern just for speaking the truth God gave him to speak.
He didn’t insult anyone. He simply proclaimed God’s word — and it wasn’t what the leaders wanted to hear.
The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that we are not alone in this.
We are surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses” — saints and faithful believers who endured opposition before us.
They kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who endured the cross “for the sake of the joy set before Him.”
Maybe you know exactly what Susana is going through.
Maybe there’s someone in your life — a family member, a friend — where conversations have become strained, and love is getting buried under disagreement.
The Gospel doesn’t just tell us to “deal with it.” It gives us a way forward. Here are a few things that can help:
Pray for the other person every day — not that they’ll “come around” to your point of view, but that God will bless them, protect them, and draw them closer to Himself. Prayer softens hearts — especially ours.
Listen before you speak — not to agree with everything, but to understand where the hurt, fear, or passion is coming from. Sometimes the argument isn’t really about the topic — it’s about feeling unheard or unloved.
Choose your moments wisely — not every disagreement needs to be tackled right now. Sometimes it’s better to plant a seed and let God do the growing.
Keep the relationship bigger than the disagreement — find safe, shared ground where you can connect: a meal, a memory, an act of kindness. Remind the other person — and yourself — that love is still there.
This doesn’t erase the challenge. But it keeps the door open for the Holy Spirit to work. And it allows us to live the kind of love Jesus calls us to — truth spoken with compassion, conviction held with humility.
Still, this isn’t easy. That’s why Jesus also talks about fire — the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Fire purifies, strengthens, and gives courage. It keeps us from letting division turn into bitterness.
It helps us speak truth with love and stay rooted in Him.
And when the division feels overwhelming, remember today’s psalm:
“He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag.”
God doesn’t abandon His people. He gives us firm footing and a new song to sing.
So here’s the challenge this week:
When you face division — in your home, your friendships, your workplace, even in the Church — don’t let it make you bitter or afraid.
Hold firm in Christ. Speak the truth with love.
Keep the fire of the Gospel burning in your heart — not to win arguments, but to win hearts.
Because in the end, our goal isn’t to avoid division at any cost.
Our goal is to stay faithful to Jesus.
And one day, in His Kingdom, our wounds will be healed, our divisions will be mended, and the Prince of Peace will be all in all.
Amen. So true. I made the first move to improve the relationship with two of my brothers that Fr Scott wanted me to do and things have never been better in our large family. Thank you for sharing.
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