Homily for March 5, 2018.
“I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of
Elijah … and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land
of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in
the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman
the Syrian.” Luke 4:25-27.
The saying is really true that the grass always looks greener on
your neighbour’s lawn. There is a natural human tendency amongst humans to look
down on what they have while believing that which others have or (that which is
foreign) is better. We never appreciate our own people, our own goods, our own
ideas.
There is the saying in pidgin that “pikin wei say he mama soup
no sweet nai dey chop poison outside.” A child that says his mother’s soup is
not sweet will surely eat poison outside his home. For how long are we going to
continue ignoring what is ours? How long are we going to realize that not only
foreign products are genuine? When are we going to start believing in
ourselves; in our own people? When are we going to recognize the prophets of
our own land?
One issue that prevented the people of Nazareth from accepting
and believing in Jesus was FAMILIARITY. They knew him too well, they watched
him grow, they saw him play with fellow kids, run errands for his parents and
partook in normal daily domestic activities. Jesus looked too ordinary for them
and they couldn’t figure out how he could claim to be their Messiah, their
Saviour.
Not only were they rejecting Jesus, they almost drove Jesus to
an early grave when he dared to confront them with the bitter truth. It is
faith, rather than one’s spiritual heritage that matters. Just as Elijah and
Elisha ministered to foreigners who had faith, the chosen people of Israel
could be left out of God’s promises if they fail to recognize and appreciate Jesus
Christ as the Messiah.
Even Naaman almost lost out of his supernatural healing because
he looked down at the Jordan River where Elisha told him to bath seven times.
For him, that wasn’t the cleanest water in the world. Thanks to his servants
who spoke sense into his head; it wasn’t the water itself that could cleanse
him but his faith in God which would be displayed by his willingness to obey
the instruction of Elisha.
Dear friends, stop looking down on the Jordan rivers around you.
Yes, it is not the cleanest water out there but God can still work in it. Stop
looking on your colleagues, your family members, your friends you grew up with.
As ordinary as they appear, God can use anybody. Even the book of proverbs adds a very
wise saying: “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own
well.” Proverbs 5:15
Stop looking down on your country, it is actually the only
country that belongs to you, moreover the problems you are facing today are
also present in other countries even in greater proportion but you are not
aware because you are not there. Stop running down your own people; the fact
that you know their weaknesses does not mean you also know the full extent of
their positive potentials. Do not make the mistake of the people of Nazareth.
Be content with what is yours. Value you own. Value your people.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, increase faith in me, take away my pride and
help me realize that for you, no one is useless. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 3rd week of Lent. Bible
Study: 2nd Kings 5:1-15 and Luke 4:24-30).
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