Homily for Monday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th July, 2022. The Memorial of St. Benedict

 Readings: Isaiah 1:10-17, Ps. 50, Matt 10: 34-11.1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE SWORD OF THE GOSPEL AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES

The way things are going in our world today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of all the ugly situation in our societies today. Because the hostility, persecution, kidnapping and the influential power of things of this world is not stopping soon rather, it will be getting tougher. Therefore, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way, for this days, it is not enough to say am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of Lord Jesus. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; and anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’ 

Here, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life, but he wants us to accept the consequences that comes with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message in a radical way, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience, because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us. 

However, Jesus does not endorse we engaging in armed conflict, but he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing his life. Nevertheless, he promises that even the small efforts we make in following him will be rewarded. 

Thus, Jesus demands a total commitment towards finishing the journey of discipleship once begun or not beginning it at all. Because, following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possession, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to Jesus over all other competing loyalties in our lives including family, self-interest, and possessions. 

This is what prophet Isaiah is emphasizing in our first reading today, as he speaks about what God demand of His people. That God does not demand our sacrifices and offerings, rather, He desires our real love, genuine faith and total dedication to Him. Calling us to take our wrong-doing out of His sight. We must cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, and cease to be hypocrites who claimed to believe in Him and yet, our actions are totally contrary to what we claim to believe in.

Dear friends, today we heard about the sword of the Gospel and it’s consequences as  we are called to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus and to accept the consequences of living by the truth of the Gospel. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following the truth of the Gospel? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus?  What is that habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards your. Through the intercessions of St. Benedict, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.