FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTER (2)
FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTER
THEME: DIVIDED WE FALL!
BY: Ben Agbo (Rev Fr)
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY JUNE 2 2022
*Act 22 : 30 – 23 : 11, Jn 17 : 20 – 26.
Fair hearing is the principle of philosophical and theological unity. When there is bias and prejudice, there is the tendency to close
Migrants walk from the main station in Dortmund, Germany, to a hall where they get first attendance Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015. Thousands of migrants and refugees arrived in Dortmund by trains. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTER
THEME: DIVIDED WE FALL!
BY: Ben Agbo (Rev Fr)
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY JUNE 2 2022
*Act 22 : 30 – 23 : 11, Jn 17 : 20 – 26.
Fair hearing is the principle of philosophical and theological unity. When there is bias and prejudice, there is the tendency to close one’s ears and heart from the other’s view point and this often leads to a complete breakdown of intellectual law and order. It is normal that when two or three intellectuals gather, there must be dissensions in Ideology and belief. A Latin adage says: ‘Tot homines quot sententia’ – As many men as there are many opinion. But what makes dialogue impossible is lack of fair hearing. No matter what you believe in before, it is good to listen to another’s view point with a neutrality of mind. This is what makes for a mutual colloquium devoid of emotional altercations and ‘ad hominem/ad bacculum arguments’ (fallacy of arguing against the person or authority instead of the facts presented). This is unfortunately rampant among intellectuals, especially philosophers and theologians. In today’s 1st reading, Paul takes advantage of the philosophical and theological bias and prejudice between the Pharisees and Saducees to work out his freedom in Jerusalem. That was smart but faultable.
Jesus knows the importance of unity of faith among Christians and prays for the Church in today’s gospel to remain perfectly one under one leader. He didn’t pray that there may be no misunderstanding but he prayed that in the midst of our diversity of views, we may have the spirit of dialogue – allowing each other a fair hearing and following the judgment of superior reason. That was the disposition that saved the early Church from disintegration when the first dispute arose about the circumcision or not of Gentile believers, Act 15.
Today, as we watch divisions among the clergy on Holy Ghost matters and matters of Church administration; as we watch divisions among the political parties (both within the ruling party and opposition) on issues about corruption, vote buying, insecurity or economic matters , let us note that what is abnormal is not the dissensions in Ideology but the lack of effective dialogue and fair hearing. Each evening, I enjoy watching the Channels television present opposing schools of thought on the program ‘Politics today’. It is such freedom of expression of views that make for true democracy. In matters of faith, we even need to agree more because unless two agree they cannot pray together. We need to agree on how best to pray, worship and live out our Christian faith in the midst of present day challenges. United we stand, divided we fall! May God bless you today!
