HOMILY FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
THEME: “JESUS,THE SIGN OF DIVISION?”
BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 14 2022
This is the 20th Sunday in ordinary time. Often we hear about Christians being persecuted in most parts of the world. This is because of the fact that truth is bitter! Sin is easily accepted than holiness. In a corrupt country, those who preach justice are seen as enemies. The case of the prophet, Jeremiah is one of the outstanding examples. He preached against the ills in the society but the leaders of the land conspired against him and convinced the king and threw him into a dry well (Jer. 38:4-6, 8-10). But, God stood by his side and he was rescued.
As the sign of contradiction, Jesus is with those who suffer for the truth. Through the grace of God, those who are being persecuted for the sake of truth are never discouraged. Rather their persecutors are often divided among themselves because they hate Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Light .This is why Paul says, “Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: … think of the way he stood such opposition from sinners and then you will not give up for want of courage” (Heb. 12:1-4). Those who do not love the truth are often divided among themselves.
That sinners fight against the righteous, is a clear sign of division. The opposite of darkness is light. Jesus is light while the devil is darkness. Therefore, the light from Jesus overshadows the darkness from the devil. Where there is love, truth and justice, there Jesus is found. As the sign of division Jesus stands by the truth always while most world leaders accept lies easily. Since darkness and light are opposed to each other, so shall families who do not accept Jesus the light, be divided among themselves. For this reason, Jesus says, “Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” ( Lk. 12: 49-53). A family that does not sit together, pray together, and plan together is divided against itself. Where truth is not accepted there is something wrong because truth brings peace to the world. Those who follow the light abide in truth while those who reject the light live in darkness. Here lies the sign of division.
May God reunite our broken families in peace, amen. Happy Sunday.
