FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1)

FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: CAN A BLIND MAN LEAD A BLIND MAN?

BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9 2022

*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!