HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
HOMILY THEME: THE CONTROVERSIAL MISSION
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY:
(Lk. 12:49-53)
In today’s Gospel Jesus delivers another radical, controversial, and challenging message. He claims to have come to divide. His presence and relationship with Him will cause tensions among members of families and friends. His messages affect the very core of our lives. It follows that it will affect our relationships.
We ask what happened to the Jesus, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Savior? What happened to the God of unity and community? The statement of Jesus refers to the effect of words on the relationship with people. Jesus’ messages on loving enemies, forgiveness, respect for life (contraception, abortion, and death penalty, etc.) had caused a lot of debates, pains, and divisions among families and friends. Faith in Jesus is challenged. Either you believe or you don’t.
Those who truly believe in Jesus uphold and witness to His teachings no matter how difficult and, at times, hard to understand. Those who are fake ones, fence sitters, blind supporters, pretenders, lapsis, and other unworthy followers would be revealed and decide to contest the faith. Thus, the line of division is defined. But it is not the end. Jesus does not aim for that. He hopes that people will be enlightened and finally become one in the faith. Jesus died for all. His mission was not to lose anyone. Division, doubts, and debates are part of growing in faith. Hopefully it culminates in being community.
