Homily for Monday 28th January 2019
_“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” *(Mark 3:24-25)*_
In our second reading yesterday, St. Paul speaks to the Corinthian Church of the need for them to guard against any form of disunity among themselves. Today, Jesus having been accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub explains that such was not possible because a kingdom divided against itself can never stand.
One way to recognise a house or even a Church or any community that is on the verge of collapse is to study its lines of division. Wherever people are divided among themselves, they cannot make progress. Like a broom, its ability to sweep dirt depends on its ability to hold many single strands together. Put apart, none of the broomsticks can achieve what the entire broom can achieve.
The story of the Tower of Babel is an example of how division prevents progress. When the people could no longer speak or understand themselves in the same language, they abandoned the project that would have made them challenge God’s omnipotence. Genesis 11:1-9.
If Satan succeeds because of his internal unity, we the body of Christ should not allow disunity to break us apart. When we are united, it is difficult for anyone to destroy us. Jesus says “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man.” Is it the case that Jesus is referring to Satan as a strong man? Of course, by strength, Jesus is referring to unity. What makes us strong is our unity.
A perfect example of unity is the three persons in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are so united that even the greatest of all theologians cannot fully explain how they could be different and still one at the same time. Let us be united for unity is power.
For those who accused Jesus of being possessed, he made them understand that by so doing they were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and therefore guilty of eternal sin. In moments of distress and sadness, let us be careful of our utterances against God lest we become guilty of the sin of blasphemy.
We remember St. Thomas Aquinas today. He was a man gifted with intelligence and wisdom, a scholar to the core, a philosopher to philosophers, a theologian of great magnitude, a man whose unshakable Faith in God led him to discover five perfectly logical proofs of God’s existence also known as the Five Ways. Thomas Aquinas is to the Church what the seminary is to a priest. He was not just an intellectual, he was a deeply spiritual person – qualities you hardly find combined in a single person.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to love my neighbour as myself. Amen. St. Thomas Aquinas, Pray for us.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 9:15.24-28, Psalm 98 and Mark 3:22-30).
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