Homily for July 16, 2018.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
There are two brands of Christianity; the convenient and the radical. Much of what is labelled as Christianity in our world today is nothing short of the convenient but there is a deeper level to which Christ calls us and only a few persons actually respond.
The story is told of a young man who saw an advert “Zoo Opening: Lions Wanted.” He thought about it for some time and decided to take the job. One day, as he was jumping up and down in his cage, he noticed another lion in a new cage close to him. He was so terribly afraid and started regretting his decision. He knew his end had come when this new lion started walking close to him. Just when he was about to say his last prayer he got the shocker of his life as the other lion spoke: “Bros, adjust your attire, people can see your nose, abi you wan fall our hand???”
Like these guys who became lions for convenience (to get paid), many of us Christians are not real. We are Christians only to the extent that it suits us. We are Christians so long as our identity guarantees worldly peace, material comfort and luxury of which Christ says he had not come to bring. God has become more of an ATM machine to us; we offer prayers and attend crusades hoping to receive all the best things in life from Him but sin, immorality, injustice and evil of all sorts rule our lives.
The prophet Isaiah speaking in the place of God was definitely addressing us Christians by convenience when he said: “I cannot endure iniquity in your solemn assembly… when you spread forth your hands, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:13-15.
Not too long ago, I saw the clip of a highly placed politician leading a prayer session, declaring and pronouncing things that God did not reveal to him very typical of the way our popular men and women of God pray when they declare prosperity, victory and success just to make their listeners feel good. The prayer was part of his electoral campaign when his good deeds ought to have been campaigning for him. For instance, for many months, he failed to ensure workers were paid yet he still had the guts to declare victory during a prayer session. In the end, it wasn’t surprising when his party lost graciously.
Dear friends, if your Christianity is merely for convenience, you are as good as these guys who were paid to act as lions. If your Christianity is just for convenience, you are as good as a Muslim who disguises and goes to church just to catch fun, socialize with friends or get business contacts. Should your faith demand some element of sacrifice, radicalism or letting go of something as little as even your family ties, your true faith comes out.
Last week I saw a movie in which a young man was introducing to his mum the girl he wants to marry. And the mum declared there and then that the girl must get pregnant before the marriage can be approved. For a 29-year-old girl who had grown up keeping her body as God’s temple, rejecting all temptations to defile herself having promised God that she would not have sex till the day of her wedding, this simply means losing her potential suitor and yet this is exactly what it means to be a Christian.
This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he says he has not come to bring peace (convenience) but has come to cast fire, to set a man against his father, a daughter in law against her mother in law and so on. Jesus says “he who loves (values, cherishes, respects) father or mother, son or daughter, (husband or suitor, contract or job) more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37. If there is nothing that pains you for being a Christian, if there is nothing you suffer for being a Christian, then you are not yet a Christian. To follow Jesus at all is to carry a cross.
Radical Christianity not only expresses itself in standing for God and for righteousness, it also expresses itself in charity. Charity here does not mean propaganda neither does charity mean sharing bags of rice to people to get a vote or carrying all the news media in the world to advertise one’s giving. No. The charity Jesus is talking about is giving to people because you see Christ in them. “Whoever gives to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, (because you know God is in him/her), he shall not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42.
Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centred on the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Traditionally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Saint Simon Stock. (Cf. Wikipedia.org)
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, make me a true Christian. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Isaiah 1:10-17, Psalm 50:8-23, Matthew 10:34-11:1).
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