YEAR A: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT: DAY 20 – FAST FROM HATE; GOD OUR FATHER IS LOVE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: HOSEA 14:1-9, PSALM 81, MARK 12:28-34

✓• Turn to the Lord and be saved this Lent.
✓• Our sins are damaging our relationship with God. They block our blessings (Cf Isa. 59:1-2)
✓• God’s anger is turned away by a simple act of repentance, do the needful
✓• He will heal our disloyalty, love us as his beloved hence render us fruitful
✓• He is our God and we ought to listen to his warning (Ps. 81).

Beloved, God commands that we love him truly (Deut. 6:5) and Christ reiterates same in Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10:27 and Mark 12:30-31 that we LOVE GOD FULLY and our NEIGHBOURS RIGHTLY. Moreover, He, God is love (1Jn. 4:8); Why talk about love always? Maybe because though love seems common, it is the most elusive of all concepts. It could also be that with love enthroned, war, violence, terrorism, militancy and wickedness would be vanquished. Would the world not be a perfect habitation for man if hate, enmity, malice, greed, embezzlement, vengeance, marginalization, injustice and corruption were absent?

For Jesus, those who love God sincerely thereby keeping his commandments; avoiding sin and for those already in sin, returning to him begging that he takes off our iniquity (Hosea 14:1-2), are not far from the kingdom. Also, according to Christ, he who truly loves his neighbour; vouching for his welfare, being merciful, compassionate, forgiving, charitable and considerate is also not far from God’s kingdom. Beloved, if only we answered the question, “what would God command us to do”; we’d be on the right path to eternity.

Considering the many wars and bloodshed going on in our world today, what if man remembered and paid heed to God’s command not to kill in Exodus 20:13, we’d be safer. What if our public officers heeded God’s command not to steal, cheat or covet the world’s goods which belong to all? This would be real love at play. What if spouses sincerely had each other’s good at heart, what if parents and children respected and catered for each other? God would have been pleased with us and we too would have been happy with ourselves.

RELIGION MY DEARLY BELOVED IN CHRIST WOULD BE METAPHYSICAL IF WE LOVED GOD AND TREATED MAN UNKINDLY; it would be meaningless if we LOVED MAN WITHOUT REVERENCING GOD. It means everything if both are applied both: love of God shown in our love for man. Friends in the Lord, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them” (Hosea 14:9). Which way would you rather follow?

PRAY AGAINST WEAPONS OF DESTRUCTION, BIOLOGICAL OR OTHERWISE.

LOVE GOD IN THE POOR THIS LENT; FEED AND EDUCATE THEM.