GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 20TH OCTOBER 2016
THURSDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Ephesians 3:14-21
PSALM: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
GOSPEL: Luke 12:49-53
THEME: THE GOSPEL OF FIRE
I once had a discussion with a friend on the topic of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony (i.e. Christian marriage) with particular reference to the African Traditional Religion. The friend mounted a solid argument in support of the view that from a traditional perspective, the African is polygamous. In conclusion, he opined that the Church should alter her teaching on monogamous marriage in order to accommodate many more Africans. I thought about his suggestion and said to myself, if the Church was a political party in a democracy then perhaps that may be the way forward. However, the Church does not exist to serve that purpose. She exists to proclaim the Gospel and the content of the Gospel cannot change even in the face of changing times.
Jesus emphatically states in our Gospel text, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Lk. 12:49). Fire, as used within this context, is a symbol of divine purification (cf. Lk 3:16; 1Pet 1:7). The Gospel purifies persons and cultures. The message of the Gospel cannot be compromised just because we see the need to accommodate more people and make the Church a “comfortable place” for everyone. If we compromise the Gospel message, it loses its purifying effect.
Many of the early Christians were Jews and had their roots in Judaism. Their decision to become Christians was often considered by some members of their biological families as a betrayal of the Jewish faith. This brought about division and misunderstanding in such homes. Consequently, some suffered rejection, while others were persecuted. Gentile Christians also had to break away from certain practices in the gentile world that were not in consonance with the Christian faith. That also brought trials of different forms to them. Luke describes the situation of rejection and division prevalent in the first century on account of the Gospel and he recalls the words of the master himself, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three” (Lk. 12:51-52).
Today’s Gospel text is a big challenge to each one of us to come out of our “comfort zones” and enter a “holy zone”. It is a call to accept the truth that Jesus proclaims and stands for. It is to allow the Gospel of fire to cause a change in us, purify us from all that is evil and make us pure in the eyes of God. We cannot change the Gospel; the Gospel must change us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, your words are Spirit and life. They set the captive free and bring salvation to the sinner. May your Gospel purify me and make me holy. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).