DAILY HOMILIES

The story of the Good Samaritan is one that we have probably heard over and over again but there is one aspect of the story that we do not pay much attention to. And that is the aspect that concerns us. “Go and do likewise.”

In the last few Sundays, we have heard Jesus present parables in our Gospel passages. Interestingly, almost all of them have been centred on working in the vineyard. From the man who kept hiring labourers in his vineyard, to the two sons who were asked by their father to go and work in his vineyard and today, the tenants who refused to deliver the expected products of the vineyard. No doubt, these parables contain a lot of lessons for us. Lessons which applied, can help us gain a deeper understanding of life and help us live very happy and contented lives free from all anxiety.

Dear friends, no condition is permanent, nothing lasts forever. Like Job, you may be experiencing your own sad moments but no matter how long it seems, God who changed Job’s situation within a second can change yours. You will not cry forever.

Like these people, a lot of us are Christians for convenience sake; we are not really committed to walking according to the footsteps of Christ. We are living in sin but have become too blind to see anything wrong in the evils we do. We think we are good but we lack that interior commitment to grow spiritually. For us, God is just one of those things and the Bible is such a boring book written for people of ancient times; full of far-reaching ideals impossible to practice.

In truth, the mood around us today is not that of celebration but a mixture of anger and frustration. Most of us are so ashamed to be identified as Nigerians that we are ready to do whatever it takes to leave or rather, run away, from this country just as the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) ran away from Israel to take refuge in Egypt.

Our Gospel passage today presents us with three examples of persons called to ministry. One came to Jesus on his own declaring his intention to follow Him. Another Jesus himself called to follow but wanted to bury his father. While the third wanted to follow Jesus but at the same time said needed to say farewell to his family. From these three persons, we learn some important lessons about ministry.

The power and working of the Angels is a testimony to the greatness of God and the fact with him, nothing is impossible. As we read in the Gospel passage, Jesus said to Nathanael, “Truly, I say to you, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Job did not have the privilege of attending the meeting where his matter was discussed. Little did he know that his unfortunate circumstance was not coincidental. Job had no idea that he was simply being tested. Yet, he passed the test.

Like the labourers who were standing idle in the market place all day, we may have spent our entire lives in sin but as the prophet Ezekiel makes us understand today, it is our present, not our past that matters to God.

Even today, I still come across many youths who engage in all sorts of immoral activities thinking they have all the time in the world to repent later on. One, no one is guaranteed time as we not know when we shall die. Secondly, even if it is true that you have time, do not forget that bad habits do not die easily.

There is great wisdom in knowing that Life happens in stages and in seasons. There is a particular time for everything; birth time and death time, morning time and evening time; mourning time and rejoicing time; planting time and reaping time. Nothing lasts forever.

“Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” First, what exactly is vanity? Have you ever looked through your wardrobe only to discover you have clothes you haven’t worn for over a year and yet you still feel the need to keep them? That is one example of vanity.