HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME. (1)

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.

THEME: ETERNAL VIGILANCE.

BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr).

*1 Thess 3: 7 – 13, Matt 24: 42 – 51.

I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said that “eternal vigilance is the supreme call of wisdom”. Going by the scriptures, we are sure of 2 classes of people who would very likely go to hell; *the wicked and the hypocrites.* I think the devil knows this and that is why he has 3 sets of agents;

(i) His 1st Degree agents are busy telling people that there is no God – that they should feel free to enjoy their lives, do whatever they like in order to succeed on earth, crush their enemies completely (48 Laws of Power) and use whatever means they like to get whatever they want. Often times these ones make people wicked, idolatrous, adulterous, armed robbers and murderers. But these are in the minority. They don’t provide the devil (Lucifer) enough materials for hell fire since people know inspite of all allurements of evil, that there is God.

(ii) His 2nd degree agents are busy telling people that God’s mercy is so great that he can never allow those who believe in him to go to hell. Often times, these ones operate among believers and good people who are struggling to break with sin and weaken their efforts so that they can relax in mortal sins relying on the mercy of God. They succeed in getting a very good number of Christians into hell fire. Yet many do realize that inspite of the infinite mercy of God, there will be people who his justice must put in hell fire.

(iii) His 3rd degree agents are busy telling people that there is still time to repent. These are the ones who get millions of disciples both among the faithful and among the unbelievers. But they succeed more among believers and righteous people especially the younger ones who hardly love to think that they could die any time soon and so, keeps postponing repentance.

‘Who then is the faithful and wise servant’, Jesus asks, ‘whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food in the proper time?’. Who is the faithful pastor, the faithful parent and the wicked servant? The hypocritical pastor or parent have been discussed in yesterday’s readings who says one thing and does another, the blind guide and who is only but a burden to his flock or his /her family. The wicked servant is the one who goes about beating his fellow servants, eating and drinking with the drunken either thinking there is no God or that his mercy is too great or that he still has sufficient time to repent. Jesus warns us that on the final day of judgment, both the wicked and the hypocritical will face the wrath of God. Eternal vigilance, therefore, remains the supreme mark of wisdom. May God bless you today!

FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>