THE FIRE OF CHRISTIANITY

HOMILY FOR 20TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

THEME: THE FIRE OF CHRISTIANITY

R1:  Jer 38:4-6.8-9

R2: Heb 12:1-4

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

The First reading is the story of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived within the time Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) besieged Jerusalem. This situation led to horrible state of life for the Israelites and they were faced with hunger and starvation. The Israelites' army wanted to continue resisting the Babylonian king and this led to a more severe state of life of the Israelites. Remember that the Babylonian invasion came as a punishment for Israel’s disobedience to God. The king of Israel, Zedekiah, wanted to stop his officers but lacked the will power to do so. At this, Jeremiah spoke out to the Israelites to surrender, innthat continuous fight as at then was useless. The officers went Zedekiah (the king) and reported that Jeremiah must be put to death because he has demoralized the army and hasn’t the interest of the city at heart. Jeremiah was arrested thrown into a well (prison) full of mud and was abandoned by all to die. 

A courageous man named Ebed-melech, who could not condone injustice, approached the king and intervened on the prophet’s behalf, telling the king that the people have done wrong. Later, Jeremiah was released and set free.

The experience of Jeremiah is similar to the experience of many preachers and servants of God in this present time. The message of God dispensed by His servants has always clashed with the selfish interest of those in authority. Most times, God’s messengers are arrested and sometimes tortured and in some parts of the world killed for speaking the truth and for standing for the truth and what is right according to the mind of God. 

So what should we do, do we run away from the clutches of these wicked world leaders? No way. Our call as Christians is a very demanding one. Following Jesus our master, in the Gospel, we are called to bring fire on earth.  This statement sounds strange especially when the scripture has foretold that the coming of the Messiah will bring peace to the world (Is 1:6-9; 9:5-6). What does the gospel mean, what kind of fire is it talking about?

Fire is a principal agent of transformation and purification. Anything subjected to fire changes and takes a new form. Hence, having noticed that the world is full of evil and evil leaders who want to change the mind of God, Jesus says, I have come to bring fire to the world. This fire is the fire of transformation, it is the fire that changes the hearts of people, and it is the fire that purifies the wicked thoughts of many. This is the fire Christ has come to bring and calls every of his follower to do the same. It is the fire of the Pentecost experience that changed the apostles from fearful followers to fearless messangers. It is the fire that changes things for good.

When this fire is at work, there is a total transformation and separation of what is right and holy from what is wrong and evil. Hence, Jesus say, “I have come not to bring peace but division (Lk 12:52).” The gospel message will set the fire that will separate the unjust from the just and the new way from the old way of living.

Just like Jeremiah, every Christian must be prepared for this kind of radical proclamation of the gospel even if it may cost us the most treasured thing on earth like family, friends, comfort, pleasure, wealth and so on, as long as these things do not go in line with the mind of God. This is the fulfilment of the demand of  the Second Reading, “Throw off everything that hinders us from Christ, keep running like an athlete to heaven, do not lose sight of Christ and fight against sin (Heb 12:1-4). This may be challenging like the experience of Jeremiah but Lord will always come to our aid as he did for Jeremiah as well.

Reflection by:

Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM