HOMILY 20TH SUNDAY YEAR C

By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo

“I have come to bring fire on earth!”

Just this week, it was reported that at least 60 people were killed and 70 others were hospitalized after a fuel tanker explosion in Morogoro, Tanzania. We pray for the eternal repose of the dead, quick recovery to the sick and consolation to their families. The Englishmen say that, fire is a good servant but a bad master!

Today’s readings seems somehow upsetting and contradictory. We know Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the source of unity. We know him as a defender of family life. But in today’s Gospel passage, he says that we should not think that he came to bring peace on earth. He did not come to bring peace but rather division. He talks of brining fire on earth and separating family members, “three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Of course, these facts should not surprise us because Jesus as foretold by Simeon in the Temple is the sign of contradiction.

Historians say that the discovery of fire, or to put it more correctly, “the control use of fire,” which happened around 1.7 million years ago during the stone age, was the greatest discovery of the human race.

Discovery of Fire

Fire is indeed a true piece of technology. It has transformed human reality forever. Fire has a variety of uses. It is used for:

·         Heating
·         Lighting
·         Warmth
·         Purifying eg “Gold is purified in fire”
·         Protection
·         Cooking
·         Socialization (Bringing people together)
·         Due to its heat and light, it has also enabled man to proceed with human activites in dark and cold hours.

The scriptures have several allusions of Fire:

·         In the Book of Genesis, during the time of Abraham fire is used to destroy the fallen cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
·         Moses is called as a result of seeing the burning bush which was burning without being consumed.
·         During the Exodus, The Israelites were led by a Pillar of clouds during the day and a pillar of fire at night
·         The prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven by chariots of fire
·         In the New Testament, John the Baptist talks of the Baptism of Jesus as being that of the Holy Spirit and of Fire.
·         During the trial of Jesus, Peter denies our Lord when he was warming himself together with others next to the fires of the courts. “The enemies fires”
·         In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles during the Pentecost as “Tongues of Fire.”

Jesus in today’s Gospel passage says that he has come to bring fire on earth and how he wishes it was already burning. What kind of fire is Jesus talking about? What does Jesus mean? This points first and foremost to his Passion. That is why he adds that there is a baptism which he must be baptised. We too as Christians, who have been baptized with Christ, must accept to suffer and to bear our sufferings and pains courageously as he did. This is what happened to the Prophet Jeremiah. He was persecuted because of what he taught and stood for. He was set apart from the others. We as Christians must not expect to be treated any differently. We chose to stand up for Truth. Who is Christ: the Way, the Truth and the Life. We must always be aware that the Truth alienates. It sets us apart. It divides us: “three against two and two against three; a father… against his son; a mother against her daughter, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law…”

As Christians we are called to preach and live in peace with everyone. But peace cannot compromise truth and justice. Jesus, the Prince of Peace comes to bring Peace but not false peace. Not merely an absence of war. Not peace in the sense of human standards. Not peace, if by that word we imply escapism and cheating out of pain and truth.

Christ’s message cannot allow us to be at peace. His message is a message of conflict. Conflict first of all with our own behaviours and that of others. His message, as Pope Benedict XVI explained, “Tears us out of our lives and leaves us to live a life of clarity and truth.” Truth as Pope Benedict XVI explained, “Does not come cheap. It makes demands, it also burns.”  Origen put it beautifully that, “he who comes to Christ must always be prepared to be burnt.”

I have always been touched by the story of the Ugandan Martyrs. All the 22 Martyrs have something to teach us. They together with many other saints are the “clouds of witnesses that surround us.” (As we are reminded in our second reading from the letter to the Hebrews.)  Among the Ugandan Martyrs is St. Mbaga Tuzinde, the 17 year Old who was the son of the Chief executioner. During the great execution, his father, the chief executioner told him to hide. And when the boy refused and joined the company of those who were going to be martyred. One of the other executioners persuaded him to obey his father. He answered, “My Father whom I must obey is in heaven.” Indeed, Just as Jesus said, a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father. Indeed, one of the Bishops of Uganda later commented, “May the fires that burnt the Ugandan Martyrs never go out.”

All Christians are called to live the Gospel radically. To be a Christian means to be fired up! To set this world on fire like Jesus. This means doing apostolate. To bring warmth to souls that are growing cold and distant. To light up fire which will illumine the darkness of the people’s hearts! To do the apostolate of confessional, i.e. that is to bring many people to the sacrament of confession so that from the Fire of Divine Love they may purify themselves just as gold is purified in fire. We should not be discouraged by our littleness or our numbers. It takes just a small spark to cause a great fire. However, we should always remember that to do this….to make the world on fire with Jesus…we need to be constantly burning. Prayer is the furnace that will keep us constantly burning.

May  the Blessed Virgin Mary, She who has been traditionally alluded to by the Theologians as the Proverbial Burning Bush, (Her motherhood did not destroy her Virginity just as the burning bush was burning without being consumed) always intercede for us.

The author is Parochial Vicar, St. Veronica Parish, Keringet. 

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