HOMILY OF FIFTH THURSDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: WHAT POLLUTES THE CHURCH!
BY: Fr. Benedict AGBO
Act 15: 7 – 21, Jn 15: 9 – 11.
Nothing pollutes the Church like disagreements, factions and malice. They are bound to exist wherever 2 or 3 great minds are brought together. But spiritual maturity demands listening to each other and to the scriptures as the apostles did in today’s 1st reading. Their system of government was a kind of theocratic gerontocracy – where the oldest elder of the Church ( James) took the final decision, especially since Peter who was the leader of the Church was part of the controversy. The decision was that the Holy Spirit makes no distinction between Jews and Gentiles but is interested in cleansing their hearts by faith from all pollutions.
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They decided that the new intakes must avoid the 3 things that pollute the Church; Idolatry, Unchastity and Violence/ Shedding of blood.These are the terrible sins that pollute the Church even till today. Many Christians are carrying charms and demonic rings and still receiving Holy Communion. Some big men/ women in the Church visit dibia shrines and occultic temples. Some CWO and CMO members go to ‘Inyama Ogbanje’ ( diviners) whenever they have any serious problems. This is what pollutes the Church. Many Church leaders are living in immorality. Many Christian fathers are having concubines ( nwulo). This is what pollutes the Church, especially when these people receive the Holy Communion afterwards.
Many people are shedding blood either directly through abortion/ violence or suppression of the poor. Some Churches are full of taxations and unnecessary monetization of religious worship in a country that is overburdened by serious economic melt down. The poor gets poorer and are dying in their stress. Our Youths are growing more and more violent; many are smoking weeds and molesting people through masquerade cults, armed robbery and kidnapping. And most recently, some Youths have resorted to suicide. This is what pollutes the Church. What pollutes the Church is lack of love. And that is why Jesus says that we should ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. May God bless you today!
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