Homily for February 14, 2018.
“Yet even
now,” says the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping,
and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Joel 2:12-13.
Exactly
fourteen days ago, I lost a dear friend and classmate, a priest who worked so
hard in raising up the church where I now shepherd; Fr. John Ehichioya. His
shocking death at such a young age really drove me into my shell and made me
ask myself very hard questions about life. I have not really being myself since
then.
Fr. John started
the building of a parish house for a church that didn’t have the resources, it
was like a dream. There was no money to hire labourers so he himself would put
on shorts and t.shirt, begin to mix sand and cement, he would even push the
wheelbarrow himself and carry blocks. When the people saw their priest doing
this, they sprang into action, both old and young joined in building.
The very
day I got my letter to this church, I came to meet father working (labourer’s
work; he was fixing metal doors). I started asking myself: “isn’t it the same
seminary we both went to?” Where did Father get to learn so much about civil
engineering, architecture and building? Not only would he join in the work, he
would so monitor the experts that even with their expertise, they would begin
to ask Father questions like children asking a professor how to do this or
that.
Father
John told me he had to do all that to avoid being cheated. When he told me the amount
of money he spent from the foundation to the level I met the house, I was
shocked. Some persons would spent twice that amount and the work would not get
to half that level. It was so sad that by the time father was leaving, I had
not completed the finishing and furnishing. The funds were not readily
available.
I told him
that he would come and spend at least one night in this house whenever he is on
holiday to which he simply laughed. I was looking forward to hosting him in a
grand way so he could at least enjoy this house he designed himself and spent
even his own money in building.
Hearing of
his death two weeks ago, the first thing that struck my mind was: “You mean,
after all that work, all that sacrifice, all that labour, Fr. John didn’t even
spend a single night in this house he built?” Then I said to myself: “This
world is nothing!”
As we
begin our Lenten Season today, the ashes we shall receive on our foreheads are
clearly a reminder of the emptiness of our very lives. Remember that you are
dust; (meaning: remember that you are NOTHING, you came from nothing) and unto
dust you shall return (meaning: no matter how rich you are, no matter how
powerful you are today, no matter the number of people bowing before you today
using their heads to scrub the floor for you to pass, you shall still die one
day and return to Nothing).
So, be
Humble!
Secondly,
if it is true that we are basically nothing, what keeps us going? The answer is
simple: The Breath of God. My life is not in my hands, God can decide any
moment to take back his breath and there is nothing I can do; not even the best
hospital in the world can bring me back.
So, knowing
how dependent I am on God, I should take full advantage of this Lenten Season
to draw close to God as much as possible. Joel says it is not too late to
return to God, its not too late to repent of my sins, my bad habits, my
addictions and my spiritual lukewarmness. It is not too late to Return to
Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, remind me of my death each day that I may live wisely. Amen.
Be happy,
live positive, it is well with you. 2018 Ash Wednesday. Bible Study: Joel 2:12-18, 2nd
Corinthians 5:20-6:2 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.
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