HOMILY FOR 15TH MONDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: BEAR THE COST
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
‘He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.’
One of the messianic titles of Jesus is ‘The Prince of Peace.’ The Reign of God comes with peace. It therefore sounds ironic to hear Jesus in the Gospel of today (Matthew 10:34-11:1) saying that He hasn’t come to bring peace on earth. This is strange, but the context must be understood. What Jesus asks for is first place in one’s heart. Our love for God is supreme. A disciple is required to place his love for God above all else. That is what successful discipleship requires.
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In the rankings of affection and affiliations, family bond always comes first. Our first object of love is within the family, beginning with our parents. We consider our family first in our actions. Whatever would upset that is almost a sword of war. However, since the Heavenly family bond which Jesus has brought is higher, we must be ready to sacrifice anything, including earthly family ties, to show our love for God.
So Jesus calls for a follower who will hate his mother and father, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, and even his own life to make Him a priority. The point of the list is that no other relationship is first for a disciple. ‘Against’ is used figuratively and suggests a priority in relationship. Jesus is first. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus, not anyone or anything else. A disciple is a learner, and the primary teacher in life is Jesus. This total loyalty is crucial, given the rejection and persecution that lie ahead. If His followers care more about family than about Jesus, when families are divided under pressure of persecution, they will choose against Jesus. This is what lies behind Jesus’ remarks.
Discipleship is serious business to Jesus. To be a disciple and complete the task, we must be ready to pay the price. True discipleship requires that God be first. We should never allow anything or anyone to be between us and God. It means sometimes peace is not an option. For higher ideal, peace may not be an option. And God alone remains that supreme good. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world and land, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen.
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