Homily for Friday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: WHAT TO FEAR & WHAT NOT TO FEAR!
By: Fr. Benedict Agbo
Homily for Friday October 16 2020
*Eph 1: 11 -14, Lk 12: 1 -7.
An individual’s object of fear is usually a soft index of the person’s spirituality. Some are afraid of poverty and may do anything just in order to be rich. Some are afraid of sickness/ old-age and may do anything just in order to be healthy. Some are afraid of political irelevance and may do anything just in order to remain in power.
In the same vein, a society’s principal object of fear also determine their collective will. A big part of the American society today for example, fears any form of relapse into godlessness while another part fears the loss of their human rights. By the time America comes out of the polls next month, one would ascertain, depending on other variables (such as media war, bribery and corruption, election malpractice, etc) which of these fears would hit the American polity.
In recent times here in Nigeria, our youths have demonstrated their fear and disgust with police brutality. Perhaps they still have more latent fears to express in the next couple of weeks and months (such as the fear of rusting at home due to ASUU strike or the fear of allowing the selfish politicians destroy the economy). But one thing that is clear is that the failure to express these fears is the cheapest visa for perpetual slavery even in a country that one calls his / her own.
Jesus warns us in today’s gospel about what to fear and what not to fear;
1. HYPOCRISY; He warns us to beware of hypocrisy, known biblically as “the leaven of the Pharisees”- the tendency to pretend to be holy in the open and then commit atrocities in the dark. He assures us that everything covered up today will one day be revealed.
2. COWARDICE; He also warns us to beware of cowardice – the tendency of not saying or doing the right thing because of the fear of persecution or oppression from the powerful. He advices us not to fear those who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
3. DEMONIC INFLUENCE; He finally warns us to fear only him who can cast us to hell. That person is the devil. We must beware of all demonic and antiChrist tendencies. We must beware of supporting anybody into power who works directly or indirectly for Satan; who promotes any form of terrorism, destruction of religious freedom, racism, abortion or antilife ideologies. Nigeria and US must be very careful at this critical time because the decisions we take will make or mar our future happiness.
May God bless you today!
FR BEN AGBO.