Balik-Tanaw | Who sits on the throne?

Fr. Meng Barawid, MI

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a
Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Matthew 10:37-42

Every generation faces a defining question. Not whether people believe in God, but which god they actually serve.

The prophets of old confronted kings. John the Baptist confronted Herod. Jesus confronted the powers of His day.

And the Gospel today confronts many with a dangerous question:

Who occupies first place in many lives—God, or the powers that demand loyalty?

The Reality

The Philippines is a nation rich in faith but wounded by injustice. Millions struggle to feed their families while a few accumulate enormous wealth. Political dynasties treat public office as family inheritance. Disinformation distorts truth. Extrajudicial killings have left deep scars. Activists, journalists, human rights defenders, Indigenous leaders, and community organizers have often been harassed, red-tagged, or silenced.

Meanwhile, many Christians have learned to live comfortably beside injustice. Many pray for peace but tolerate violence. Many ask God for blessings while ignoring corruption. Many attend Mass while remaining silent when truth is attacked. The greatest danger is not that evil exists. The greatest danger is that good people become accustomed to it.

The Word of God

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says:“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” These words are not about family. They are about allegiance. In the first century, family was one’s identity, security, and survival. Jesus is saying that no relationship, no tribe, no political clan, no ideology, and no ruler can demand the loyalty that belongs to God alone.

The Shunammite woman in the first reading recognizes God’s presence in Elisha and rearranges her life to welcome him. She risks comfort to make space for God’s mission.

That is what true faith looks like. Faith is not merely devotion. Faith is making room for God’s reign.

Paul goes even deeper. In his letter to the Romans, baptism is described as dying and rising with Christ. The Christian is not simply someone who believes in Jesus. The Christian is someone whose old self has died. The old self that worships power. The old self that fears speaking the truth. The old self that remains neutral in the face of oppression. A baptized person belongs to a new kingdom. And that kingdom does not bow before idols.

Choosing Sides

The Gospel leaves no room for comfortable neutrality. There are moments in history when silence becomes cooperation. When lies are normalized, disciples must speak truth. When the poor are neglected, disciples must stand beside them. When workers are exploited, Indigenous peoples displaced, migrants abused, or public funds stolen, Christians cannot hide behind pious language.

The Gospel is not partisan. But it is never neutral between truth and falsehood, justice and injustice, life and death. To offer even a cup of cold water in Christ’s name is to participate in God’s transformation of the world. Every act of solidarity matters. Every defence of human dignity matters. Every refusal to participate in corruption matters.

Every courageous word spoken for the voiceless matters.

The prophets did not ask, “How can we stay comfortable?” They asked, “How can we remain faithful?” Jesus was crucified not because He was nice but because He proclaimed a Kingdom that challenged every false throne.

Today the Lord asks the same question of us: Who sits on the throne of our hearts?

The God of justice, truth, compassion, and mercy? Or the idols of power, fear, wealth, and political loyalty?

A Church that follows Christ cannot simply bless the world as it is. It must help transform the world into what God intends it to be. The Gospel is not only about getting people into heaven. It is also about bringing God’s justice, truth, and compassion into history in the here and now.

And that work begins with us.

Balik-Tanaw is a group blog of Promotion of Church People’s Response. The Lectionary Gospel reflection is an invitation for meditation, contemplation, and action. As we nurture our faith by committing ourselves to journey with the people, we also wish to nourish the perspective coming from the point of view of hope and struggle of the people. It is our constant longing that even as crisis intensifies, the faithful will continue to strengthen their commitment to love God and our neighbor by being one with the people in their dreams and aspirations. The Title of the Lectionary Reflection would be Balik –Tanaw , isang PAGNINILAY . It is about looking back (balik) or revisiting the narratives and stories from the Biblical text and seeing, reading, and reflecting on these with the current context (tanaw).

The post Balik-Tanaw | Who sits on the throne? appeared first on Bulatlat.