Anyone who hates his brother is a Murderer.

Homily for January 5, 2018

“He who does not love abides in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love; that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:14-16. 

As we gradually take down our Christmas decorations and begin to return to our normal routines, as the reality of bidding farewell to the holiday season dawns on us, there is a tendency for us to forget in a hurry the true meaning and essence of what we just celebrated.

If we are to remember anything about the holiday that is almost coming to an end, let it not be the food and the drinks, the extra meat or chicken, the village environment, let it not even be fireworks we cracked or the people we had time to visit, the new clothes we wore or the parties we attended.

If we must remember anything about the holiday, then it has to be the fact that Jesus Christ was born in human flesh for our sake out of love for us and that we too should love one another as well. If you have been following our first readings this period, you would notice that St. John is basically teaching us how to concretize the whole Christmas celebration in our day to day life.

Because Christ was born as a man, our human nature has been elevated, we are now sons and daughters of God; brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and so, sin should no longer have dominion in our lives. If after the Christmas celebration, if after rushing to church on New Year Eve to receive all those powerful blessings from the mouths of our priests, pastors and God’s ministers, we still return gallantly to our sinful ways, then the whole holiday was just a waste.

And believe me, none of those blessings for which we shouted “I receive it” many times would work for us if we do not put a check to sin!

Again, the fact that Jesus agreed to be born as a man teaches us the real meaning of love; making sacrifice to benefit others. One great man described Christmas as the act of a man turning into a rat, to be born as rat and live among rats in other to save the rat community. Today, St. John drives home the point that hatred is the root of all sin in our lives. The moment we start nursing hatred in our heart towards our neighbours, colleagues or even our fellow brothers and sisters, we are already murderers.

What is the point celebrating Christmas; a love story, if I cannot love my fellow brothers and sisters? St. John says: “we know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren.” Being able to love (or better put, being able to forgive) is our passport, our identity card, our report card of having come out of death to life. When I continue to harbour hatred in my heart, I am living in death (i.e. a living dead).

The key to avoiding hatred is not letting anger fester in our hearts at all. Psalm 4:4 says “Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” Ephesians 4:26-27 adds: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.” Forgive easily and forgive quickly; see something good in the person who has hurt you and hatred will not rest in your heart.

Finally, as we return to our busy life schedules, let us not forget to introduce people to Christ. Don’t just talk about politics, fuel prices or inflation, also talk about Jesus. We often assume that everyone already knows about Jesus but the evils in our society today reflect the opposite reality. Be a Philip today; bring some Nathaneals to Jesus.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, purge my heart of hate. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you and Happy New Year. Friday before Epiphany. Bible Study: 1st John 3:11-21 and John 1:43-51.)