YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER (1)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: HOMILY: BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO?

BY: Fr. Ben Agbo

HOMILY: * Act 2 : 36 – 41, Jn 20 : 11 – 18.

“Be ye doers of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves “, St James advised Christians so many many years ago, Js 1 : 22. “The Word of God” says St Paul “is inspired by God and profitable for refuting error ( admonition), for guiding people’s lives (exhortation) and teaching them to be upright (teaching) “, 2 Tim 3 : 16. Yes, the Word of God does so many things but we have a caveat that reflection on the Word of God should not end up at mere intellectual entertainment.

Remember Paul’s experience at Areopagus, Act 17 : 32. ” The heart, not the head”, says Plummer, “is the home of the gospel”. Because of this, it is always very important for the preacher to be spiritually and emotionally soaked in his message as Peter was in today’s 1st reading, in order to be able to touch the hearts of the people you are talking to.

The loving actions of Mary ; her visitation of Jesus’ tomb and anointing of Jesus’ body, her weeping and desperate searching for the body of Christ, etc have resulted in what we are celebrating today – the story of the resurrection of Christ. She was quite emotional. And Christ controlled her emotions : “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to my father…. but go to my brethren and say to them…..”. The question : ‘What shall we do?’ is a question that is so much lacking in modern day Christianity. Christians are often confused about what to do nowadays especially here in Nigeria ; often confused about what to do in the face of bribery and corruption especially at critical moments in the national life such as during the last elections ; often confused about what to do in the face of the danger of Islamization and Fulanization of the entire Country ; and confused even now on what to do in the face of the outbreak of CoViD 19 pandemic. At panic mode, we must listen to Jesus like Mary did, tell us what exactly to do. Jesus will speak first before scientists, the government and every other persons speak.

May God bless you today!