Oil And Water Do Not Mix

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Before the birth of Jesus, prophets of God had foretold of his coming. When prophet Isaiah spoke about his birth, he called him a “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). When Jesus inaugurated his earthly ministry, he declared his mission statement, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18). In John 10:10b, he also announced afresh why he came, “I have come that you may have life, life in its fullness.” These and many other declarations tell us that Jesus came to do something very good and wonderful. The author of the Acts of Apostles even told us that with the Holy Spirit and power, Jesus traveled around doing good and healing folks who were under the power of the devil, because the Mighty God was with him (Acts 10:38). But if you take the assertion of Jesus in today’s Gospel literally, and then compare it with what prophet Isaiah called him and what Jesus himself had said his mission was all about, you will run into trouble and also be confused. We accept and believe what Isaiah called him, “the Prince of Peace.” We also accept and believe that Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many and to offer them abundant life that is everlasting. Simply put, he came to establish the good life. But what do we make of his proclamation in today’s Gospel, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing… Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No! I tell you, but rather division.” 

Jews considered fire mostly as a symbol of judgement and punishment. When a city sinned so much, it was destroyed by fire. But when Jesus said that he has come to set the earth on fire, does it mean he has come to destroy it? Not at all! Fire is also a symbol of purification. This purification is made possible by the action of the Holy Spirit working through the words and deeds of Jesus. It is a revolutionary purification that takes place in the life of a person who accepts the message of Jesus Christ. It is not a fire of destruction like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is the fire of love, the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit that sets the heart of a believer aflame to become a firebrand disciple of the Lord. It is this fire that drove St. Paul to say: “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). It’s not possible for those who have been set ablaze to remain neutral, indifferent, and sit on the fence. Zeal for God and God’s matters will always burn in them like a fire. When the fire of love for God consumes a person, some people may attempt to either stoke it or douse the flame. The fire is what drives a person to tell the truth when everyone else is lying. It is what makes a person to stand up erect for what is good. It keeps your hand on the plow without looking backwards. It keeps your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. As we look forward to our heavenly city, this fire keeps our attention focused on the crown. As we escape from today’s Sodom and Gomorrah, the fire of love for the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit prevents us from looking backwards to the things we have left behind. The passion to store our treasure in heaven where mot cannot destroy, or thief steal is driven by this fire.  

Jesus came to proclaim the Kingdom of his Father on earth and he wasn’t under any illusion that all and sundry will accept the message. Some will accept it, while others will reject it. No idea, no teaching, no message, no good deed, no matter how amazing and great it is will be acceptable by everyone. Oppositions and rejects will also be around. Those who reject the message of Jesus will not sit idly by, they will attack those who accept it. This has already happened in history and it is still happening today. Many Christians lost their lives in the hands of oppositions. Remember the martyrs! 

Jesus knew that the road his disciples would travel won’t be easy. Division will come, not because Jesus wants it, but because oil and water do not mix, darkness and light cannot stay together, good and bad cannot coexist, love and hate cannot intermarry. Division will come when a member of a family accepts the Lord, while others reject him. It will come when three out of five friends turn their lives around and embrace the way of the Lord. Truth will divide a father against his son, a mother against her daughter, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law. When they are not on the same page, division will come. When a member of a family accepts the Lord, his way, his truth and life, the person will stand out in words and deeds. Others who are yet to follow suit may become uncomfortable. But the one who has accepted Jesus and is making effort to live according to his commands must stay strong. The road to the Kingdom is not easy. On that road, there are many thorns, many trials, many troubles, and many dangers. But guess what? You are not traveling alone. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus made a promise, “I am with you always until the end of time.” The author of the book of Hebrews said, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”