DATE : 26/3/2021
EVENT : Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
COLOUR: Violet
READINGS : Jeremiah 20:10-13; Resp. Psalm 17:2-7; John 10:31-42.
THEME: BE YOUR FIRST CRITIC
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Sixth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Be Your First Critic". Beloved in Christ, you and I know that while it is good to listen to every form of advice, you can only make use of the ones that you judge suitable for yourself. But more importantly, no matter the sorts of advice, encouragement or motivation that you get, the best form of motivation or advice is the one that you give to yourself. Hence, external forces cannot really change a person for good or bad, if the person doesn't want to change. True change can only come from within. However, experiences have shown that it is not everyone who verbally renders you words of advice, actually mean the best good for you. It is not everyone who greets you or relates well with you actually desires your good. It is not everyone who speaks words of peace to you actually wants peace for you. Most people are actually more happy when bad things begin to happen to you than when you are progressing. Let for some persons, they would prefer that you leave the scene so that they can occupy your place. So, be wise, be careful, be your first critic, for no one can advice you better than yourself. When things are working so well for you, be very careful, be more critical of your actions and be very prayerful lest you fall and your frenemies begin to smile (1Cor. 10:12).
In the first reading of today, Jer. 20:10-13, we are told that the friends and well wishers of the prophet Jeremiah, were secretly watching and waiting for his down fall. They did not actively plot evil against him. But they were uncomfortable that he is succeeding in all that he does and that he has the admiration of people. So, they patiently and remotely watched for the slightest mistake he would make so that they can capitalise on it to ridicule him. This is also true with Jesus in today's Gospel, John 10:31-42. The elders of the Jews were not comfortable with the growing popularity of Jesus. They were not at home with the fact that he was shifting the attention from themselves to himself. So, they desired to put an end to him. But being wise men, both Jeremiah and Jesus became the first critics of themselves and so they eluded the people and never really faltered as the people had wished.
Beloved, have you ever sat down to evaluate your life? Have you ever sat down to advice yourself about the right thing to do and the wrong things to avoid? Do you criticise your actions even before other people do so for you? Listen to me child of God, it is not everyone that smiles at you or that cheers you up means your good. Some are actually waiting for the day you will begin to sink. So always watch what you say and to whom you say it to. Always watch where you go or enter. Always watch what you do or do not do. Always think through every action before you execute it. So that you would not give your frenemies the opportunity to feed their masked intentions.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to always be conscious of all that I do and help me to outdo my masked frenemies in wisdom.
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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