DATE : 4/3/2021
EVENT : Thursday of the Second week of Lent
COLOUR:Violet
READINGS : Jer. 17:5-10; Resp. Psalm 1:1-4,6; Luke 16:19-31.
THEME: DO NOT BE BLINDED
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fourth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Do Not Be Blinded". Beloved in Christ, have you noticed that the most generous persons are not people who are known to be very rich. In fact, according to the law of wealth, 'the wealthier you get, the less generous you should be'. The reasoning is simply that if as a millionaire, you remove 1kobo from your 1million naira, you will cease to be a millionaire. So, to maintain your millionaire status, you should not remove a dine from your money. But, he who is not a millionaire is not afraid of losing a millionaire status, so he is more disposed to give. You get the point now? Permit me to say this. The reason why St. Paul said that, 'the love of money is the root of all evil', is simply because, every inordinate pursuance of wealth and material thing blinds us to the truth. To virtue, to holiness and kills our conscience. If not, how else would you explain the presence of so much decadence in our world today, despite the numerous gospel that has been preached and is still been preached even today. Beloved, as long as we still openly or remotely love and desire material gains, holiness wil be far from us and we will keep been blind Q.E.D.
Child of God, the Gospel reading of today, Luke 16:19-32, presents us with the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Now, we will notice that there was no specific sin which was mentioned against the rich man, neither were we told that he made his money through dubious means. In fact, it is possible that the rich man made his money through an honest means. It is also possible that he never wronged or cheated anyone. It is also possible that he was a very religious and pious man, who paid his tithes, and was careful to observe the ten commandments and other ritualistic norms. Yet, he found himself in Hell, simply because he was blind. Too Blind to see the plight of the poor around him. Too blind to see that God blessed him so that he can be a blessing to others. Too blind to see and identify with the reality of human sufferings. He was too blind to the real world. His wealths and things of the flesh formed a lump in his eyes. His stomach became his god. His appetite and craving for more millions won him the title of a glutton. And in his quest for the hard work that pays, he fell into the ditch of avarice.
Dearest in Christ, have you noticed that riches never fills anyone. There is always space for more. So, as Christians, with a dreadful fear for damnation, let us shun every form of blindness that may come from material things. Let us learn to share. Let us learn to notice the tears in the eyes of our neighbours. Let us learn to come through for a hungry person. Let us go out of our way to meet and help that brother or sister who may not have the courage to approach us for assistance. Let us make it a point of duty to visit the orphanage. Take out time to visit prisoners and the sick. Try to offset someone's bills this season of Lent. Never refuse to render help to anyone who asks from you, no matter how little. Just help and you will be securing paradise for yourself.
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 notice the pains in the heart of my neighbour and give me the grace render the needed assistant.
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
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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