FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: GRIEVANCES AGAINST A BROTHER : A CASE FOR THEOCRACY!
BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)
HOMILY FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6 2022
*1 Cor 6 : 1 – 11, Lk 6 : 12 – 19.
‘Do you not know that the Saints will judge the world?’. Quarrels are inevitable moments of societal trial when authority and judgment must be brought to bear in the restoration of peace and harmony in any society. St Paul therefore warns the Corinthian Christians in today’s 1st reading to be careful not to wash their dirty linens in the public. Dragging one another to court over squabbles to be judged by Gentile Lawyers and Judges is an infringement on Christian integrity. It is worse when a case between parents is judged by their children or a case between two priests or pastors working in a Parish are judged by their Parishioners. St Paul says our spiritual maturity should be brought to bear in such situations: ‘Why not suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?’
The Church is a place where people pray heavily like Jesus did in today’s gospel before making important decisions; before judging cases between brother against brother, before choosing who governs the people of God, before erecting/ enacting rules and regulations. All things being equal, I think theocracy should be the best system of Government if it is a government that allows the holiest and wisest people to rule / take major judgmental decisions affecting the populace. It is the most superior form of government; a government where heaven rules earth. In Nigeria today, the Muslims have continued to reign supreme over the Christians because despite the towering profile of the academic exposure of our bishops and pastors over that of the Sultan and Imams, the Muslim hegemony has continued to respect the leadership of their religious leaders in social and political matters more than their Christian counterparts. Even as the party campaigns unfold, check out the involvement of the priests and pastors viz a viz that of Imams and Alhajis, then you will understand why Nigeria is the way it has been. The Saints are supposed to rule and judge the world before it will become pure and sane.
May God bless you today!