Homily for March 6, 2018.
“You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you
besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had
mercy on you?” Matthew 18:32-33.
Few days ago, someone sent me a video of a woman who killed her
neighbour. When interrogated by the Police, the woman confessed that she killed
her neighbour because her neighbour had lent her the sum of one thousand naira
(i.e. three dollars) but on this day, her neighbour came to demand the money.
She pleaded with her neighbour for mercy saying she does not
have the money to pay back but the woman insisted she must pay back
immediately. A fight ensued and this woman took a kitchen knife and stabbed her
neighbour in the chest and at the back. When she realized what she had done,
she took the woman to the hospital herself but that was just the end of her
life.
From the time of Cain and Abel to this day, man has always been wicked
to his fellow man. If given the chance, man would destroy all life on earth. The
above story is somewhat similar to the story contained in today’s Gospel
passage. A man who owed his master a lot of money was forgiven of his debt but
he turned out to be underserving of such mercy because he couldn’t also forgive
his fellow servant who owed him much less.
For just three dollars, an amount of money that can barely
provide one decent meal, a woman who obviously is a Christian took the life of
her helper. This story reflects how unchristian we who claim to be Christians are.
It shows that our religiosity is mere lips service. If someone was kind enough
to lend you money when you needed it, what gives you the audacity to stand your
ground to fight such a person even to the extent of taking her life? This is
not the work of the devil; no, it is lack of Christian charity fuelled by greed
and absolute individualism at work.
Dear friend, as a rule of thumb, ALWAYS GIVE WHAT YOU LIKE TO
RECEIVE. This is the only way to avoid such ugly incidences. Never utter a word
to a person that wouldn’t like to hear being spoken to you. Never wish anything
for someone that you do not pray to happen to you. Treat everyone you meet on a
daily basis just as you wish God to treat you.
Take it that you are the God other people are looking up to and
you have the power to create your future by the way you treat the people who come
in contact with you every day. What do you expect from God? Have you taken out
time to examine the things you want God to do for you or how you expect God to
behave when you offend him? Then begin today to treat your fellow human beings
according to your expectations from God.
There is already enough wickedness and violence in this world;
even violence being perpetrated in the name of religion. Let our Christianity
reflect in our ability to love our fellow brothers and sisters just as Jesus
Christ loved us; that even though we were sinners, even though we were at
enmity with God, Christ gave up his life for our sake. Without this love, we
dare not address ourselves as Christians anymore.
Our church-going must go beyond loud prayers for prosperity, it
must go beyond all nights and crusades, it must go beyond miracle sessions and
all that entertainment that goes on in the name of worshipping God. Let us begin
to show our Christianity by forgiving one another. Let our Christianity reveal
itself by our treatment of other people just as Christ treated humanity.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help me realize that whatever I give out in thoughts,
words, and deeds is exactly what I should expect from you. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 3rd week of Lent. Bible
Study: Daniel 3:34-43 and Matthew 18:21-35).
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