CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: CAN A BLIND MAN LEAD A BLIND MAN?

BY: Fr. Benedict Agbo

HOMILY: *1 Cor 9 :16 – 27, Lk 6 : 39 – 42.

Leadership mentality is a mentality of concern for other members of the body of Christ. It is a burden for the salvation of others that compels one towards self purification in order to purify others since a blind man cannot lead a blind man. Visionless leadership is the greatest problem with Nigeria both at the secular and ecclesiastical pedestal.

St Paul gives us a wonderful example in this area in today’s 1st reading. He says he has made himself a slave to all and has become all things to all men in order to win some ; being more understanding, more merciful, more forgiving, more prayerful, more disciplined… Just in order not to be a scandal to others.

Hypocrisy is the greatest enemy to good leadership because ‘the corruption of the best is the worst evil’. According to Pope Paul VI : ‘A man teaches with moral authority only that which he practises because when the conscience because an obstacle to speech then what is preached becomes difficult to accept’. I once knew a very arrogant and eratic priest who was always preaching humility and charity. He became such a bore to his parishioners that they merely tolerated him as one would tolerate an insane brother until he was transferred. It is still happening in many parishes, homes and offices. Self examination must precede condemnation of others so that a blind man does not end up trying to lead fellow blind men.

May God bless you today!