TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C  Lectionary #120
The Word of God is a sharp two-edged sword; it can cause division. It can
also cause problems for the one who wields it, as witnessed by Jeremiah and
Jesus. It is a dangerous thing to speak the truth, even in love.

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10. Jeremiah's outspokenness gets him in trouble with the
powerful people in Jerusalem; he's accused of treason. The dithering king
first permits him to be put out of the way but then changes his mind and
saves Jeremiah's life.

Psalm of the Day:  Ps (39) 40
This psalm begins with a thanksgiving and ends with a lament; all but the
final verse chosen for today are from the thanksgiving part of the psalm.
The psalmist gives thanks that God saved him from an ordeal in mud and
water-perhaps an imprisonment like Jeremiah's, perhaps a shipwreck on a
river. Relying on that previous example of divine mercy, now the psalmist
asks for help in a new crisis.

Here I Am/God, My God, Come to My Aid (Cooney) Una Voz 172 (ref. II)
Lord, Come to My Aid (Batastini/Proulx/Gelineau)  RS 75/WOR 924
Lord, Come to My Aid (Greening)  WC C325/SMM5 120
Lord, Come to My Aid (Savoy)  PMB 466/WC C327/PC6 49
Lord, Come to My Aid (Smith/Young)  CBW 288

Suggested Common Psalm

Ps 25, To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul

Hebrews 12:1-4. Based on the example of the saints of faith whose stories
are told in the First Testament, Christians should follow Christ and stay in
the race, no matter the cost.

Luke 12:49-53. Jesus acknowledges that his message is divisive; it is in the
nature of speaking the truth that it will anger or repulse some people.

Songs for the Liturgy

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (1,G)  CBW 641/MI BB/GP 15/JS 473/GC 607
Ah Tol' Jesus It Would Be All Right (1,G)  LMGM 275
Anthem (G)  GP 19/G 298/GC 690/MI BB/JS 614
As a Fire Is Meant for Burning (G)  GC 663
Be with Me, Lord (1)  G 42/GC 85/PMB 202/MI BB/GP 33/WC 231, 232, 738/JS
642, 757/LMGM 509, 510
Be with Me, O God (1)  JS 667/MI BB
Canticle of the Turning (G)  GC 556
Christ's Church Shall Glory in His Power (2)  WOR 616/CH 487
Don't Be Worried (1,Ps)  JS 722/MI BB
Father, I Place My Life (1,G)  GP 72
God Is Our Fortress and Our Rock (1,G)  WOR 575,576
God, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle (G)  WOR 640/GC 714
Hold Me in Life (1,G)  MI BB/G 241/GC 599/CBW 707/JS 670
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (2)  WOR 524/CH 568/PMB 127/BB/GP 93/WC 507/CBW
631/LMGM 193/GC 524/JS 343
How Firm a Foundation (1,G)  WOR 585/CH 452/LMGM 102/WC 458/JS 404/GC 606/MI
BB/LMGM 102
I Am the Way (2)  PMB 102
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (2)  LMGM 118
I Will Lift Up My Eyes (1,G)  MI BB/JS 573/G 203/GC 500
If Anyone Would Follow (1,2,G)  CH 645
Keep in Mind (2)  PMB 69/MI BB/WC 473/JS 372/GC 674
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (G)  WOR 686/CH 633/PMB 763/CBW 642/LMGM 6/MI
BB/WC 586/JS 518/GC 766
My Refuge (1)  G 255/GC 610
My Song Is Love Unknown (2)  WOR 439/CH 258/WC 872/JS 281
Now We Remain (2)  G 299/GC 694/WC 370/MI BB
On Eagle's Wings (1)  GP 178/G 261/GC 611/MI BB/WC 468/JS 532
Only This I Want (2)  GP 183/GC 695
Save Me, O God (1,G)  CH 407
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God (G)  WOR 580/MI BB/CBW 704/WC 461/JS 544/GC
615
Shake Up the Morning (G)  GC 529
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (1,G)  WOR 528/MI BB/WC 505/JS 458/GC
539
Song of All Seed (2)  G 289/CBW 720
Take Up Your Cross (2)  WOR 634/CH 651/PMB 44/BB/CBW 485/GC 698/WC 883/JS
253/LMGM 50
Thy Strong Word Didst Cleave the Darkness (G)  WOR 511
Tree of Life (2)  G 163/GC 397
Unless a Grain of Wheat (2)  MI BB/JS 685
We Acclaim the Cross of Jesus (2)  PMB 356/WC 889
We Have No Glory (2)  MI BB/JS 410
We Live a Mystery (2)  G 250/GC 595
We Remember (2)  G 249/GC 593/GP 255/MI BB/WC 379
We Who Once Were Dead (2)  G 345
What Wondrous Love Is This (2)  WOR 600/JS 394/G 290/GC 627/MI BB/CH 530/PMB
157/GP 263/WC 895
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (2)  WOR 433/JS 280/WC 900/CH 263/CBW
489/PMB 53/BB
Wherever He Leads, I'll Go (2)  LMGM 50
Wind upon the Waters (G)  G 200
You Are God (2)  CH 595