HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR B]

HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR B]

THEME: WHAT IS VALENTINE’S DAY? WHO SHOULD CELEBRATE IT?

BY: Fr A.N. Abiagom, CM.

HOMILY: This year’s Valentine’s Day celebration falls on a Sunday in many parts of the World. A coincidence or what? Perhaps a few lines of the reflections in various places of worship might address the celebration.

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But why is February 14th, designated “Lovers Day?” As there are several historical write ups already on this subject, I would go straight to giving a brief synthesis concerning the Valentine’s Day celebration.

A priest known as Valentine according to a certain historical record, went on organizing and witnessing the secret weddings of young lovers against the marriage prohibition of the state under a vicious ruler. The prohibition was geared towards recruiting young men into the military to serve the purpose of the state, as marriage was considered a deterrent to their willingness to wearing the military uniform. Such a prohibition is certainly against God’s institution of marriage.

Consequent of his clandestine activity of joining couples together at that point in history, he was arrested and beheaded. However, it was recorded he left a note for the jailer’s daughter who had become his friend while he was incarcerated prior to his death. The note is said to have concluded thus; “From your Valentine.” With some official declaration after several decades following his death, the day of his martyrdom was made a day of his remembrance.

Valentine’s Day celebration is therefore a deep celebration, and at the centre of this celebration is death for the sake of love. It is not a child’s play. It is love in light of commitment unto marriage. The young men and women who availed themselves for matrimonial union and the priest who witnessed their unions in secret, expressed this commitment .

Thus, in its proper context, Valentine’s Day celebration should encourage young men and women who are in courtship to enter into the matrimonial covenant. And it should encourage the renewal of love commitment among the married couples.

“Valentine’s Day” is a memorial love day celebration. It is not a day for lust! It should not be determined by the size or quality of gifts bought for one’s val. It should rather be determined by the sincerity in the renewal of love commitment. Love is sacrifice. Several marriages are crumbling today because sacrifice has been excluded from the definition of love in such marriages.

There would be no point loving your spouse on 14th February, if you wouldn’t love him or her before 14th February and after 15th February. Valentine’s Day should in essence, be everyday.

On a general note, everyone could celebrate this sacrificial love that is historically associated with Saint Valentine.

You are my Val.

Love.

N.b: Be free to Share.

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