Romans 6 : 12-18 / Luke 12 : 39-48 (2023)
In any battle or war between two forces, there is a clear separation between the two forces, as in who is on which side.
So logically speaking, a soldier should know clearly who are the friendly forces and who is the enemy.
But many battles and wars have been won or lost because of an undiscovered danger. And that is the enemy within.
Or what is commonly called "traitors". A traitor betrays his/her own country to the enemy, so that the enemy can conquer the country.
In essence, a traitor is the enemy within.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul talked about offering ourselves to God as a weapon fighting on the side of God.
Yet he also warned that though we may not be slaves of sin or unholy weapons, we are not free from the clutches of sin.
In other words, if we are not careful, we will betray God, we will be traitors of the Body of Christ, we will become the enemy with the Church.
Similarly in the gospel, the unfaithful servant betrayed his master and is the traitor to the household. He is the enemy within.
In this Mass, let us offer ourselves to the Lord to be His instrument of holiness, and His weapons to fight against sin.
Let us also ask for God's grace to be on guard against unfaithfulness. May we never become the enemy with.