HOMILY THURSDAY, 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR B
THEME: TAKE BY FORCE
BY: BISHOP GERALD M. MUSA
MATTHEW 11:11-15;
Jesus says something shocking, “The kingdom of God suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). The kingdom of God suffers violence even today because there are too many forces opposing the Gospel and persecuting disciples of Christ. A tough world such as ours needs tough people who are enthusiastic and zealous and who are on fire with the spirit of God. The force by which they seize the kingdom is not physical but spiritual and moral force.
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There is a constant battle between the forces of good and evil powers. Evil forces struggle to seize the blessings God has bestowed on his children and to destroy his good plans for them. Therefore, we need to aggressively protect what God has given us, not with guns and bombs or any physical firepower. We have a task to discover, challenge, and defeat principalities and powers of darkness that cripple us spiritually, politically, economically, socially, and psychologically. St. Paul gives us an effective strategy of how we can seize the kingdom by force. He says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12). How enthusiastic and zealous are we in the struggle to establish a better society?
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