Costly Crown or Cheap Crown?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, July 2017

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives five lengthy speeches, and today’s Gospel passage (10:37-42) is the conclusion of the second of these speeches. This passage consists of two parts or two themes. In the first part or theme, Jesus teaches the apostles the meaning of discipleship before sending them out on their mission. He tells them the challenging demands of following him. He tells them that following him will cost them something significant. You know, the gospel does not contain only a feel good message. There are some folks who only want to hear a feel good message of material abundance, material breakthrough, prosperity, stressless life, unlimited and uninterrupted joy and peace. They want a church that preaches such and that makes them feel happy. Such folks do not want to hear Jesus say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4) because they are addicted to good feelings. In their feel good addiction, they want to avoid every inconvenience and pain. They want the crown but not the cross. Such Christians are like students who want good grades without hard work of reading. The Gospel of Jesus promises us peace, joy, good life and grace, but to attain all that, we must be ready to walk the long, narrow, winding steep and high road: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:38). Nothing good in life comes easy, and that includes eternal life.  Jesus calls us not to let anything or anyone, even those who are closest to us— parents, brothers, sisters, other relatives, friends etc. be more important than he is. He does not make this request for his own glorification or benefits. He has all the glory he needs, after all, he is the Son of God. Nothing else can be higher than that. He wants us to love him more than anything or anyone and to give him a central place in our hearts and lives for our own sake and happiness. Experience has shown that no one is really happy and fulfilled until he or she possesses and is possessed by the life that only Jesus can give. We are all addicted to more, but none of the material and pleasurable things we seek more of would satisfy us. The ultimate longing of the human heart is God. No wonder St. Augustine once said, “You have created us for yourself O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” 

Sisters and brothers, do you want the crown, the costly crown? Then hear me out! The costly crown that only Jesus can give is attained through the cross. If you don’t want the cross, then you cannot have the crown. May be there’s a crown other there for you, but it’s not the costly crown of glory, rather, the cheap crown that perishes  when earthly life is over. If you don’t want to give up anything for the sake of Jesus, even though he gave up everything for us, then you are looking for the cheap crown. If you don’t want to love him more than everything and everyone, you are looking for the cheap crown. If you don’t want to carry your cross and follow him, you are looking for the cheap crown. We give ourselves the cheap crown, and cheap crown preaches forgiveness without requiring repentance. It preaches God’s love and mercy with no mention of his wrath and justice. It drags us to the confessional with no intention of making effort to quit a sin that has become habitual. Because of cheap crown, parents bring their kids to catechism class and then stays home on Sunday. They baptize their kids but never raise them up as Catholics. Because of the cheap crown, we receive communion without being in union with the Lord. Cheap crown is communion without confession and repentance. Cheap crown is the preaching of material prosperity and breakthrough with little or no relationship with Jesus Christ. Cheap crown is wanting everything without giving anything. It is losing nothing for the sake of Jesus but wanting everything from him. The Lord is not giver of this kind of crown. His crown comes at a cost. It will cost us something. For the sake of this crown— costly crown, many saints gave up everything, including their lives. Costly crown must be sought for. We should be ready to sell everything we have to purchase it. This crown is costly because it cost a man his life, it cost Jesus his life. Because of this crown, God sent his only begotten Son. Costly crown is seeking first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. It leads us to share what we have with others. 

And this brings us to the second part or theme of today’s Gospel. In it, Jesus announces rewards, not rewards given to the disciples themselves, but rewards that will be given to those who welcome them. Those who made extreme sacrifices in order to bring the message of life to us deserve our kindness, generosity and hospitality. They includes the Church’s hierarchy, our priests, religious, and also our parents, grandparents, teachers, spouses, neighbors, friends, and all who have taught us about God and faith in him. Like most of you, I did not get my faith out of a textbook, but from God through my parents, priests, (some of these priests were used by God to get me to where I am today) catechists, faith formators, and teachers. In my early twenties, my faith in God was deepened by many members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal I met in Lagos, Nigeria. Each of them strengthened my faith. Jesus announces that those who show kindness to those who bring them the good-news are showing kindness to him, and those who show kindness to him, are showing kindness to the One who sent him— the Father. Acts of kindness can be a gift of cold water. A cold water is so refreshing when it is taken on a hot afternoon day. It quenches thirsts. Those who bring you good news, like you, do have some thirsts as well. Sometimes, the thirst is spiritual, but other times, it could be material. Those who receive them, offer them cold water, hospitality and pray for them, Jesus assures, “will surely not lose their reward.” So, if you want the costly crown, accept the costly cross. Travel through the field to the golden land!

God bless you!