Podcast: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Hi and welcome to the Modern Psalmist Podcast. I’m Rebecca De La Torre.

This weekend we celebrate the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A. The theme prevalent in our readings serves to illustrate our struggle in living a Christian life. The call for anyone who wishes to follow Jesus to “deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” as articulated in today’s Gospel, serves as a clear depiction of the challenges and complexities inherent in Christian discipleship.

Beginning with the Entrance Antiphon, we plead to God for mercy as we enter into worship. But in this same passage, we remind ourselves that God understands the struggle that we face everyday and is sure to respond with mercy.

Taken from from Psalm chapter 86 verses 3 & 5, we sing:

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of mercy to all who call to you.”

Our Psalm response today really encapsulates the yearning for God that we all experience, whether we recognize it or not.

Taken from verse 2 of Psalm 63, the response that we sing is:

“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”

This response emphasizes not just a single moment of need, but an ongoing, ever-present desire for divine connection. Each verse serves as a metaphor for the enduring pursuit and, at times, the difficulty of continuously seeking God’s presence, guidance, and grace in our lives.

The Communion Antiphon is from Psalm 31 verse 20:

“How great is the goodness, Lord,
that you keep for those who fear you.”

At first glance, seems to be more a song of praise rather than struggle. But further reflection suggests that God’s goodness is “kept” for those who “fear” Him, implying that there’s a form of struggle in maintaining a sense of reverential fear and awe towards God in our lives.

And when we include the verses, phrases like “In you, O Lord, I take refuge” and “you have taken heed of my soul’s distress” allude to the hardships present in life, and God’s ability to grant peace to a distressed or weary soul.

As I have mentioned before, the primary theme I gather from these readings is one of the struggle we face as we strive to live a Christian life.

In the first reading from Jeremiah chapter 20, the prophet highlights the struggle to align human action with divine will, even when doing so incurs social or emotional costs.

In verse 7, Jeremiah says:

“You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.”

and in verse 9:

“it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”

How many times have we felt called to act in a certain way, but when adversity struck, we felt like we had been a fool for following what we interpreted to be the Spirit leading us? But in the end, things worked out for good, and we were able to see how God’s hand was in it all along.

Can you relate?

In the moment, it’s hard to understand God’s plan. And if we are truly and prayerfully seeking God’s will, and feel that same “fire burning” in our hearts like what Jeremiah felt, then what can we do but follow God’s will?

In the second reading for today, St Paul encourages us to do the same. In Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, he tells us:

“offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.”

and

“be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God”

And in the gospel today, Jesus communicates the same mandate in Matthew chapter 16 verse 24:

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.”

I composed my own song based on these words of Jesus, titled “Take Up Your Cross, and Follow Me”

The entire refrain and verses are a rhyming paraphrase of the Jesus’ own words communicating the same struggle we face every day as we strive to live a life dedicated to the Lord.

That was my original song, “Take Up Your Cross, and Follow Me” for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, year A. Check the show notes for links to song recordings and sheet music for all the songs featured on today’s podcast.

Join me next week for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time, as we explore how “love is the fulfillment of the law.”

God bless you.