The Two Kingdoms: Earthly Power vs. Eternal Life, Homily, 7th August

Today’s readings place before us two kingdoms.

First, the kingdom of this world: proud, violent and passing away.

Then, the Kingdom of Christ: founded upon the Cross and enduring for ever.

The prophet Nahum announces the fall of Nineveh.

It was a great and powerful city, feared by nations and enriched by conquest.

Yet its splendour could not save it.

Its walls fell, its armies fled, and its glory became shame.

Such is the end of every earthly power which sets itself against God.

Wealth passes.

Honour fades.

Empires fall.

The soul alone goes forward to judgement.

That is why Our Lord asks:

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

A person might gain wealth, influence and praise, yet lose sanctifying grace through mortal sin. Before God, that person would possess nothing.

Our Lord therefore gives us the law of Christian discipleship:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Self-denial does not mean hating the good things God has made. It means refusing to allow any created thing to take God’s place.

We deny ourselves when we reject sin, govern our passions and place God’s will above our own.

We take up the Cross when we accept faithfully the duties, sacrifices and sufferings that divine Providence permits.

We follow Christ when we remain obedient even when the road is difficult.

The saints we honour today lived this Gospel.

Pope Saint Sixtus II served the Church during persecution. He knew that fidelity to Christ might cost him his life. Yet he did not abandon his flock or conceal his priesthood. He was arrested while serving the faithful and shed his blood for Christ.

Saint Cajetan lived in a different age, but fought the same battle. He saw corruption and worldliness within Christian society. Instead of despairing, he sought reform through prayer, poverty, charity and fidelity to the Church. He trusted not in money or human influence, but in divine Providence.

One saint surrendered his blood.

The other surrendered security.

Both chose Christ above the world.

My brothers and sisters, Christ does not ask every disciple for martyrdom, but He does ask every disciple for the whole heart.

We cannot carry the Cross while clinging to sin.

We cannot follow Christ while making comfort our god.

We cannot save our souls while living only for this passing world.

Nineveh seemed strong, but disappeared.

The saints appeared weak, but now reign with Christ.

So let us choose wisely.

Let us lose what must be lost, surrender what must be surrendered, and carry whatever Cross God gives us.

For whoever loses his life for Christ will find it, and whoever possesses Christ possesses a kingdom that can never fall.