Homily: Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Mark 3:20-35
9 June 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
The Crown is a series on Netflix that I find interesting because it is about the British Royal Family. In one episode they depicted a conversation that allegedly transpired between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In the scene, the Queen tells the Prime Minister that it is a mistake to assume that privileged people lack strength of character. Her Majesty then adds that to make enemies everywhere is a rather dangerous game. Margaret Thatcher replies that she is quite comfortable with making enemies. Moreover, she recites the lines of a poem by Charles Mackay: “You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip. You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight.” (“Walang kuwenta ang pagmamalaki mong wala kang kalaban. Ang taong nangangahas na gumawa ng tama at tahakin ang tuwid na landas ay tiyak na may makakasagupa. Kung walang kumokontra sa iyo, yun ay dahil di ka nangahas na ituwid ang mali, ilantad ang taksil at itama ang kasinungalingan. Wari’y isa kang duwag na di nanindigan para sa katuwiran.”) Simply put, when we do what is right, we will make enemies of those who delight in doing what is wrong.
The gospel this Sunday illustrates how Jesus has made enemies of those who misconstrued the motives of His ministry. Sadly, even His own kin doubted Him and the authenticity of His actions. We are told they came to seize Jesus by force if need be, to subdue Him, perhaps out of concern for His safety, but more likely because they thought He was out of His mind. Then Jesus is challenged by His adversaries who questioned His motivation for the miraculous driving out of demons and evil spirits. They witnessed Jesus’ miracle of healing but “the hardness of their hearts” made them refuse to accept Him. Refusing to recognise the power of God at work in Jesus, they resorted to discrediting Him by accusing Him of being in league with Beelzebul, the prince of demons. After Jesus responds by trying a little bit of logic with them, their argument falls flat and they were exposed for the fools that they were. “How can Satan drive out Satan? 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. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, that is the end of him.”
Today’s gospel passage reminds us that as Christians, we will surely face opposition and conflict in our desire to be faithful to Jesus. There will also be people who will misconstrue our motivations for doing good or question our conviction for upholding what is right and just. They will discredit us especially if our values do not conform to their standards for or models of goodness. In today’s society it is very common that people who fight and expose corruption are the ones who end up persecuted and prosecuted? They make enemies of those who are corrupt and of the people who benefit from such illegal and immoral practices. Their reputations are attacked, stories are made up about them and they are crucified in the media and especially on social media. In the same way, those who work in solidarity with the oppressed to change unjust social structures end up “retagged”. Smear campaigns are launched by those who make their fortunes at the expense of others. The message of our gospel is that we should never allow setbacks such as these to dampen our spirits but rather strengthen our resolve and increase our courage in the pursuit of goodness for in this way we can be assured that we follow in the footsteps of the Lord.
In closing, I would like to share with you a poem claimed by some sources to have been found in an orphanage in India while others attribute it to St. Teresa of Calcutta. It goes…
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and joy, some may be jealous. Be joyful anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Brothers and sisters, let us have courage! Let us not fear making enemies in our attempt to be good and in doing what is right. If we choose to follow in Christ’s footsteps, we should expect to face adversity and endure difficulties. Those who shun Jesus will fight to hold on to the wealth and power that the world has given them. God never forgets those who stand up for Him. May we resolutely live out our faith with compelling conviction and endeavour to share the love of Christ with others at all times.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 