(For the audio version of this post, please visit https://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mass-Blog-for-the-22nd-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2026.mp3)
September signals the start of another school year, or maybe even the beginning of the career for which one’s education prepared them. With that in mind, the readings for this 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time offer the raw materials for anyone to recall some of history’s most uplifting messages for a new commencement.
On its surface, the first reading from Jeremiah might seem like the opposite of uplift (Jeremiah 20:7-9). God called this prophet into service on the brink of Jerusalem’s destruction and the exile of its citizens. Life for such a prophet was a bittersweet combination of promise and suffering.
“You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped,” Jeremiah prays. “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. … I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones.”
Jeremiah didn’t survive to see Jerusalem’s rebirth, but later in this prophet’s Book his passionate and inspired words would survive to encourage future prophets, as the best commencement speeches do.
“See, days are coming when the city shall be rebuilt as the Lord’s … Never again shall the city be uprooted or demolished.” (Jeremiah 31:38-40)
By spreading God’s word in speech and actions, Jeremiah acted as the kind of prophet Paul calls to service in Sunday’s second reading (Romans 12:1-2):
“Do not conform yourselves to this age,” Paul urges us graduates, “but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Jesus knew that for him a return to Jerusalem would mean sure death, but also sure resurrection and salvation for the fallen world Jerusalem represented. What is good and pleasing and perfect comes with sacrifice, and our own service will come with the kinds of difficulties foreseen in all three readings this Sunday. Peter wanted his Master to choose the easy way, but Jesus gives him and us the key to our graduation:
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:21-27)
We may not risk losing our lives as dramatically as Jeremiah, Paul and Jesus did in service to God, but for all three, the process of losing their lives was God using them so this fallen world might get back up and commence toward Him again.
–Tom Andel
+MJ
The cost of Truth is high. This post reminds of the interview Bill Maher did with Jordan Peterson, where Bill (a modern adversary to religion in general), was forced to admit that he was a prophet, who speaks the truth to power. Even if his idea of truth is off-kilter. We must be brave speak the truth or else evil wins.
And that is why God’s word in the form of Biblical stories, speaks to hearts across the millennia. Truth, whether in a story form, or in scientific precision, will win out, even if the prophet is punished in the short term.
If we don’t speak the Truth, others will not be inspired to stand as well.
Joe, it’s always interesting to compare today’s prophets to those who lived before and with Jesus. Look at who Jesus chose to carry his truth forward–especially the one on whom he built our church. As Jesus was beginning his passionate exit of this earth, Peter denied even knowing him–out of fear his Master’s persecutors would do the same to him. But God the Father has been patient for us to build up our courage, as Peter did. Can we bring righteousness into a world still largely devoid of it? Peter and his successors have been trying for more than 2,000 years. Some in that succession have been righteous, others not so much. But Peter’s voice still resonates via 2Peter:3, in which he asks us, “what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God; … According to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” Centuries before, Isaiah foresaw the days when a voice would cry out, “Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” In other words, make it so everyone on earth has equal access to the truth. God wants all people to see it, unimpeded. Our role as prophets continues to be turning seeing into believing.
There is an interesting name for God in Isaiah 65:16: Elohei Amen (in Hebrew) —“God of Truth” or “God of Faithfulness.” Perhaps that is the ultimate source of the courage to speak truth: not confidence in ourselves, but confidence in the God who is Truth itself. If we remain faithful to Him, we can help make straight the way for others to see that Truth.
George, it’s interesting to contemplate those places in all three synoptic gospels where Jesus tells his disciples they will be given what to say by the Holy Spirit at the proper time (especially when facing trial or persecution). In the Old Testament it happened to Moses and Jeremiah. And Paul told the Ephesians at the end of Chapter 3, “I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may … be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ALL generations are empowered by God’s truth–including ours and our children’s.
Tom, you stole my point of where reading this takes me: Mathew 10, Mark 13, Luke 12. Or maybe it’s a case of great minds thinking alike haha. At any speed, it always thrills me to see the Old and the New come together so beautifully.
The people of this world hold ourselves to such a standard (and usually hold others to an even higher standard), but ultimately God has a plan for us. He gives us and uses our challenges for His plan turning perceived failure and rejections into triumph for us and our brothers and sisters! That is how great our God is!
Guess the Holy Spirit addressed us both at the same time, Mike. Thanks as always for adding to the dialog. Or maybe trialog.
On the outside, many people may appear to have care-free lives. But through experience we know this is an illusion.
We all have or will go through hardships. It may be loss of a loved one, loss of health, loss of income, loss of peace of mind.
This week’s readings illustrate what most people know but often fail to accept.
Life is hard! But as always Jesus reminds us that we must take up our cross daily and follow him.
As Saint Paul said, “His grace is sufficient for us.”
I believe it is!
Yes, Thomas, Paul offers a great example of bearing one’s cross with courage, but he also reminded us we don’t have to go it alone. In Galatians 6:2 he says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” That’s why God gave us the gift of friendship. Jesus taught us how to use this gift. In John 15:13-15, He states that the greatest proof of love is laying down one’s life for one’s friends. By being each other’s friends, as Jesus taught his disciples, we become HIS friends.