FR BEN’S HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT (1)

FR BEN’S HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

THEME: THE SCOURGE OF LIBERALISM!

BY: Fr. Benedict Agbo

HOMILY: * Deut 4 : 1 – 9, Matt 5 : 17 – 19.

FR BEN’S HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

THEME: THE SCOURGE OF LIBERALISM!

BY: Fr. Benedict Agbo

 

HOMILY: * Deut 4 : 1 – 9, Matt 5 : 17 – 19.

In covenant theology, we learn the importance of the law, especially bilateral covenants, eg that spoken of in today’s 1st reading between God and the Isrealites. The functionality of that covenant was predicated upon their obedience to the law. If they failed to keep the law, then they should not expect God to keep his own part of the covenant. That’s why St Paul says that the law is spiritual. Anybody that is a spiritual leader must observe the law first and then teach others to do the same. Otherwise, he /she becomes guilty of a double tragedy – disobedience and scandal. Daniel’s end time prophesies reveal that in the last days, the learned shall be the first to rise and those who have instructed others in the paths of virtue shall shine like the expanse of heavens, Dan 12 : 3.

The Word of God in today’s 1st reading says : Give heed to the statutes which I teach you and do them that you may live and take possession of the land. Obedience to God’s laws has always remained the basic precondition for divine blessings. It is therefore the highest deciet of modern day Christianity to inudate people with the promises of God’s blessings without the requisite emphasis on obedience to his commandments.
Liberalism has gradually crept into the Christian religion undermining subtly all God’s pristine laws ; compromising the law against worship of idols in the name of culture, swearing, abusing Sunday worship, relaxing the demand for offerings and tithes or exploiting the people of God through it, disrespecting of parents, abortion and cults of violence, immorality, theft and unaccountability in leadership, calumny, envy, avarice, etc.

Liberalism is the evil of the present generation. It is the mentality of relaxation of the rules. It is the sin committed usually by the learned and the privileged. When it happens in the Church, Christ bleeds again. He lets us realize in today’s gospel that God’s commandments are sacrosanct ; both the natural and the Divine positive laws. Christ said : ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away but not an iota of the law shall be removed until all is accomplished’, Matt 5 : 18. Christianity is only a continuation of Judaism – the religion of the Mosaic law refined by Divine wisdom repackaged in Christ. For example, idolatry, blasphemy and impiety will continue to be sins against God, while disrespect to parents, murder, adultery, stealing, calumny, envy, avarice, etc will continue to be sins against our fellow human beings. Christ has only brought superior wisdom in addressing these sins from their root. Example, to avoid murder, one has to master anger ; to avoid divorce, one has to control adultery and to control adultery, one has to avoid fornication and to control fornication, one has to master impure thoughts, Matt 5 : 20 – 31. Teachers of morality have a big assignment to teach the right thing and practice what they teach, James 3 : 1.

How did Jesus intend to complete the law? He did this by showing that religion in its essence is a matter of the heart. When a man is inwardly changed by the grace of God because he loves God and neighbour, he becomes a law onto himself bwing guided by the spirit of God. Christ said that from the heart comes a lot of evil thoughts and actions, Mk 7 : 14f. He perfected the law against adultery by forbidding fornication and impure thoughts and emphasized the indissolubility of marriage. He perfected the law against murder by forbidding anger and vengeance and emphasizing the love of enemies. He perfected the law against breaking of oaths by advising us not to swear at all.

We must avoid the onslaught of liberalism the way it is gradually permeating modern day Christianity. Many places in Europe will prefer to attend Church on Saturdays and use Sunday for shopping. Here in Nigeria, many Christians are doing their normal businesses on Sundays. Many preachers are encouraging pagan masquerades and other heathen funeral cultures in the name of inculturation. Many couples are living with their partners and getting pregnant before wedding. Abortion and use of contraceptives have become the order of the day especially among Christian couples. In US, supporting abortion has been targed “pro -choice” making it look more acceptable even among Catholic theologians and politicians. Christ is still warning us that whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

May God bless you today!
FR BEN AGBO.

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