HOMILY OF THE 2ND WEDNESDAY OF LENT — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: ALL PROTOCOLS DUELY OBSERVED!
BY: Fr. Benedict AGBO
2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Man is ceremonious by nature and the human society is characterized by protocols; protocols for contracting marriage, protocols for celebrating the birth of a child, protocols for celebrating the initiation of a child into his societal religion, protocols for celebrating the maturity of a child into manhood or womanhood, protocols for celebrating the death of a man /woman. Part of the moral decay we observe in our society today is the breaking of protocols – especially regarding the due process for the contraction of marriage and admission into family life. Our people say: ‘A kpaa akpaa a laru n’ ute’ – When there is dialogue there is agreement. Every culture respects the need for due process before marriage but today, in the name of Christianity, we are fast beginning to swim in the ocean of impropriety. Whether we call it ‘white wedding’ or ‘traditional wedding’ protocols must be duely respected before a man leaves his father and mother and gets united to his wife.
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In today’s gospel, we are told that Mary was betrothed to Joseph but before they came to live together as husband and wife she was found to be with child. Joseph had interacted sufficiently with Mary without any carnal knowledge of her and had built such a trust and respect for her that he knew something must be wrong somewhere. He decided not to disgrace her. These days, as soon as a man signals interest in a woman, sex begins and the next minute they are already living together even before the parents know it and even before the ‘Umunna’ (kindred) or the community of believers (Church) get to know it the woman is already pregnant. I have often imagined that if Joseph’s society was as mad as today’s society, the whole theological mystery about Virgin birth of Mary and the Divine conception of Jesus would have been lost to the wind of social frivolity. It is necessary to observe all protocols in marriage; from mere acquaintance to friendship stage, from friendship stage to courtship stage, from courtship stage to betrothal stage, from betrothal stage to marital stage. At the marital stage, let there be a celebration from ‘Umunna’ (kindred) to the public. We must not use the idea of Church wedding to break protocols. It can be as cheap as possible but let due processes be respected. Marriage is no small business! May God bless you today!
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