THE FIRE OF DIVISION. (Homily for August 14, 2016. Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C.)


Bible Study: Jeremiah 38, 4 to 10. Hebrews 12, 1 to 4. Luke 12, 49 to 53.


Jesus’ words in our Gospel passage this morning are quite shocking. “I came to cast fire upon the earth… Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” It is shocking because it totally contradicts what Jesus himself said in John chapter 14, verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

So why is Jesus talking about division instead of peace? To really understand what Jesus is saying, it is important that we find out the context by reading through the preceding verses. This way, we would get to know what led to this statement of Jesus. This would take us back to our Gospel passage three Sundays ago wherein a man from the crowd said to Jesus: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

In other words, what we hear Jesus say in our Gospel passage this morning is part of his response to this man. First Jesus began by rebuking him for making such a request. “Friend, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then, Jesus decided to use the occasion to teach the crowd about avarice and wealth. He gave the example of the rich fool who laid up treasures for himself and was not rich towards God. Jesus then taught us to be completely dependent on God and not worry about what we are to eat or wear. Last Sunday, Jesus told us to even sell our possessions and give alms that by so doing, we would be storing treasures for ourselves in heaven where no moth can destroy and no thief break in and steal.

Today, Jesus is concluding his response to this man and at the same time teaching the crowd not to allow family ties become obstacles on their way to salvation. So when he speaks of not bringing peace, Jesus is saying to this man that he should simply let go of his share of his father’s wealth as well as the possibility of reconciling with his brother. To put it in a clearer way, Jesus is saying that finding peace with his brother because of property is not as important as living up to the demands of our Christian calling.

Should it happen that we lose our wealth or even our friendship with family members for the sake of our Christian faith, we should not be so bothered. What is most important is that we are saved. The Gospel is Good News yet this Good News is one that places certain demands on its hearers. The primary purpose of the Gospel is not for family members to be united but for the Christian to get to heaven. So if one’s family members do not key in to what the Gospel demands, should it so happen that one has to choose between obeying family members or obeying God, then, God must come first.

Our second reading today throws further light on this issue when it says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” Whether we like it or not, our biggest temptations often come from our family members, we live with them and we see them every day; we are more likely to take their advice than those of strangers; our natural love for them can actually become a weight that clings to us.

If we really want to serve God, we must lay aside that weight and remove ourselves from an environment that constantly leads us to sin. If I find myself in a situation where my parents or my siblings order me to sin against God, I must remember that my obedience to them does not supersede my obedience to God. We are to honour our father and mother but so long as it is not sin. St. Paul says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.” Ephesians 6, 1.

Now, one clear example of how the Gospel can cause division between family members is what we find during burials in this part of the world. Over the years, we Africans have had certain traditions and customs that reflect our belief in life after death as well as our understanding of what proper burial is all about. Some of this traditional burial rites are so tied with our African Traditional Religion that apart from being merely customary practices, they constitute in themselves the worship of other gods. For instance, asking a woman to drink the water used in bathing the dead body of her husband as a way of proving her innocence over the death of her husband and appearing before a shrine to swear is to say the least barbaric. It gives no credit to God as the author of life who alone has the power to take life whenever he so pleases. There are so many other things people do in the name of burial that are completely against the Christian faith. As children of God, we should not mind cutting ourselves off from family members should it happen that unity would mean partaking in the worship of other gods.

It is even more painful when persecution comes from family members themselves. The very people who should love you become your enemies and begin to plot your death because you are a person of truth or because your lifestyle reflects the light of God. This is what happens to Jeremiah in our first reading this morning. But just as God used Ebedmelech to speak on behalf of Jeremiah, God will surely come to our rescue when we have to suffer for the sake our faith.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, may your fire burn from me any impurities, any weight or sin that is clinging to me as I strive to put you first in everything I do. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. Happy Sunday.

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