Homily for April 8, 2017.
Fear is
such destructive force. It makes us imagine things that are not real and causes
us to act based on our imaginations. Fear is the opposite of faith. And where
Faith is lacking, fear takes over.
While
faith makes us believe for the very best, fear makes us expect the worst. While
faith is being positive in the midst of uncertainty, fear is being totally
negative even in the midst of serenity.
At times,
we mistake our fears for just being realistic or practical. You could be
realistic and still have faith in God. Yes, God is real; he is not simply a
figment of imagination. Fear is false expectation appearing real.
When we
are afraid, we tend to make very bad decisions – regrettable ones. This is because
our negative expectations never come to pass or rather, our attempt to prevent
our fears from coming to pass makes us do things that eventually bring about
our fears.
One the
reasons the Jews felt justified to put Jesus to death was that they were scared
about the future of their nation. “IF WE LET HIM GO ON LIKE THIS, EVERY ONE
WILL BELIEVE IN HIM, AND THE ROMANS WILL COME AND DESTROY BOTH OUR HOLY PLACE
AND OUR NATION.”
Can you
imagine? Jesus was killed out of fear.
How many
times have I killed people just because I was afraid of what they would do? How
many times have I made very bad decisions out of fear? How often have I doubted
the power of God so much so that I felt I should help myself rather than wait
for God to act?
In the
end, after killing Jesus, did the so called Holy Place last forever? The year
70 AD is one that the Jews would never forget, this was the year that their
greatest fears were realized – the Temple was destroyed!
The spirit
of Fear must be conquered from our hearts lest it drives us to make the same
mistake the Jews made. No matter how scared you are about the future, NEVER, I
repeat, NEVER consider it justifiable to take the life of another person.
Only God
can make our nation and secure our future. Let us have faith in God rather than
allow fear control us. Just see how God speaks to us through the prophet
Ezekiel in the first reading. Violence against another or taking the life of
another person will not lead us to the Promised Land. Prayers only would do.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, delete my fears and replace them with stronger faith.
Amen.
Happy
Weekend. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God
bless you. (Saturday of the 5th
Week of Lent. Bible Study: Ezekiel
37:21-28 and John 11:45-57).
Fr. Abu.
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