Homily: June 9, 2024, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary time (Division)

 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

This is so true. Jesus was not just talking about Satan but He is also referring to his own Jewish community, particularly the Pharisees, who were causing divisions in society and among the Jewish people.

If they fully understood the word of God, they would have recognized Jesus and not be persecuting Him.

Being united is powerful; any community or organization which is divided is weak and bound to break up, including families and relationships.

In the first chapters of Genesis, we can already see that division. Satan tempted Eve when she was alone, to turn her against God and against her husband. Thereafter, having herself sinned, she too convinced Adam to turn against God.

With the same selfish attitude to defend self and push the guilt and responsibility to others, the division in relationship worsened as we see Adam blaming God, saying: "The woman whom you put here with me - she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it."

She was no longer considered a blessing to him, and he claimed that God was to be blamed for putting her in his life.

He no longer called her ‘flesh of his flesh’ and ‘bone of his bones’. Harmony and unity were broken. Adam blamed both God and Eve, and Eve blamed Satan. They both did not accept their own faults; they did not acknowledge their own sins.

Do we also do the same in our own families and relationships?

I remember when we were younger, my siblings and I would often be tempted to do something wrong. And when caught, the guilt in us further tempted us into another sin of blaming each other, instead of accepting it as our own mistake. That did not go well with anyone, every one of us felt betrayed and unjustified, each of us bore anger at being blamed, and of course, at the end, all of us were punished!

Is this familiar to you?

Humanity did not progress much from the time of Adam and Eve, till the time of Jesus. Divisions were everywhere. Has humanity progressed much to date?

There are still different political ideologies, unequal societal statuses, and other differences, and we have not learnt to live in harmony with this diversity but instead continue to use these as the reasons for division and blame. When a problem arises, it is still always someone else’s fault, never ours. The hurt, the betrayal, the opposition continues.

How can such a world be strong? 

St. Paul mentioned in the second reading, "Since we have the same spirit of faith." You and I have the same spirit of faith, faith in the same God with a spirit of unity, not of division. Those who are divided are not guided by the Spirit. We are all children of a loving heavenly Father, and we have the same spirit that comes from Him.

Our dwelling here is temporary, we have our permanent home in heaven. But while we are here, we are all invited to build up the kingdom of God. We are the kingdom of God.

However, are we truly united in heart, mind and spirit?

If we live according to God’s will, then all of us would be living in unity. When we live for our own selfish wills, there will be conflicts and fights. The blaming persists.

And thus, Jesus warns and reminds us in the Gospel, “For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

If we live according to God’s will, we will build up His kingdom, His family. We are God’s family.

Our call is to build bridges that lead everyone to God, and not burn the bridges. We ourselves will be left stranded outside God’s kingdom if we do.

God’s will be done! Amen.