20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C
NOT YOUR FAVORITE PREACHER
LK 12: 49-53
MESSAGE
Were you confused when you read or heard the Gospel today? Were you shocked at the words the Lord Jesus used? Were you put off by its message? The Lord speaks of division, of enmity, of separation; it all seems too far from what we expect from him.
Were Jesus to speak of peace, it would have been easily understood. Were he to preach of love, certainly all would concur. If he did focus on unity, no one will disagree. But the Lord chose to dwell on the hard truths, the harsh realities, the mysterious events in the lives of those who sincerely and faithfully follow him.
We live in a time when people scramble to see and hear their favorite preachers. And why not? This is the moment when preachers and pastors of the Word turn into celebrities, entertainers and performers. But when Jesus spoke, he showed the power of real proclamation. He did not speak to attract but to instruct; not to pacify but the stir up; not to sugarcoat but to be direct. In other words, the Lord chose to preach the truth even when it hurt.
And the truth is this: following Jesus would mean disagreement with the ideas of others; obeying his commandments would mean a break-away from even those closest to us; keeping his word would mean hatred by the world of social media, public opinion, and the politically correct. At times, following the Lord would mean walking alone…
REFLECT
How has your relationship with Jesus challenged your way of thinking, acting, and speaking? What sacrifices did it entail when you decided to be faithful to his words?
