Cycle C - Year I:

18 August 2013: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Luke 12:49-53

Walking the difficult path!

We are more than half past the year 2013, and soon the "ber" months (September, October, November, December) will come. In the Philippines, the advent of the "ber" months starts our preparation for the Christmas season.

Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ into our world to assume our human nature and become like us in all but sin. It is the joyous of all seasons in the Christian world as the angels greet the birth of Jesus "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will!" Indeed the Holy Child born is called the "Prince of Peace". For Jesus reconciles  sinners with God. He unites fallen man with God once more.

In the Gospel narrative this Sunday, we hear our Lord say something that is rather startling and perhaps disturbing. Jesus asks, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Lk 12:51)

So now we also ask, if Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" then how come that he now says to his disciples that he comes to bring division?

Well, Jesus is talking about the impact of his teachings on relationships.

In a world that seems to be consumed with materialism and things pleasurable here and now, to be a follower of Jesus Christ is like walking the difficult path. So that preaching the Good News is met with great resistance,  and sometimes ridicule. It seems that being a disciple of Jesus Christ means sacrificing a big deal in terms of our relationships with others and among ourselves.

For example, the government pushing for the RH law and the Catholic Church strong opposition to it caused a deep division among the nation. Yet, it is the moral obligation for the Church to oppose something that is against the will of God for us, even if it may create division.

Even in our respective lives, we encounter instances that challenge our Catholic values. We must not be afraid to oppose them even if this may create division and enmity. Because we believe that God always takes the side of those who are pushing for what is good, what is moral and righteous.

We know that the very essence of Christianity is loyalty to Jesus Christ, our Lord, a kind of loyalty that takes precedence over every other relationships. Jesus insists that his disciples give him the loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse or kin. Our love for God compels us to choose who will be first in our lives.

As Christians we believe that the same Jesus Christ who warns us that he will be a source of division also offers a great reassurance to those who seek to follow Him faithfully: "Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life." (Mt 19:29)

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Deo Optimo Maximo!