20C Sunday Homily, Luke 12:49 -53, August 17, 2025
1. STORY
While praying in
the dilapidated chapel of San Damiano, Francis of Assisi heard a voice speak to
him. “Francis, repair my church, which has fallen into disrepair.” He began physically to repair the ruined
building. To pay for the church’s
repair, he took cloth from his
father’s warehouse without asking for his father’s permission. As a result, his father was angry and had
Francis arrested and brought to trial before the bishop. Francis admitted his fault and returned his
father’s money. From that time on, he
left his family to follow Jesus, to work for Jesus.
2. GOSPEL, Luke
12:49 -53
A) CHRIST HAS
WORK TO DO
“I have come to
set the world on fire.” Fire gives us light, warmth, and is useful in cooking
and for cleaning. Christ has come to
purify us of our sins. He is the Lamb of
God who takes away the sins of the world. He must continue this work today.
B) JESUS NEEDS
HELPERS
“A father will be
divided against his son.” Jesus invited
others to follow him as he invited Francis to follow him. One leaves his family to follow Jesus but not
because of disrespect for the family. A person can leave his / her family and
still have great love and concern for the family members.
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A) WORK TO BE
DONE
Many people are
like a building in need of repair. Just
as the weather damages a building, so does life damage people. Difficulties, failures, poor health, sin and
poverty damage people. Such people need
the help of Jesus who has come to set the world on fire, to cleanse the world
of sin.
B) JESUS NEEDS
OUR HELP
Just as Jesus
asked Francis for help, he also asks for our help. A person can repair a building, so we can help
repair the body and soul of someone in need. We do this when we are kind to others,
forgiving and understanding, just as Jesus was.
4. CONCLUSION
Jesus asked
Francis for help in building his Church. He left his family while loving his family to
work for Jesus. Jesus asks us today to
help others as he did. For some, this
means leaving their family. For others,
they help Jesus while still living with their family. Let us help Jesus build the church, the family
of God.
