Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest friends, is the above not IRONICAL? Certainly it is! Ordinarily, more Churches should breed more VIRTUES but unfortunately the reverse is obviously the case in our world today in general and in our country in particular. I guess you already know the reason for such an irony?
Well, in case you do not know, the reason is very simple; the values many Church goers and their ministers claim to believe in and preach do not CONFORM to their daily lifestyles and choices, both publicly and privately. The unfortunate thing is that they think that it does not MATTER. Honestly, it matters a lot. This is the reason why it matters:
It is certainly impossible to expect a concrete positive effect of the Gospel message when the lifestyles of those who profess the faith directly or indirectly CONTRADICT what they profess. A Latin adage beautifully captures it thus: “Verba movet, exampla trahunt” (i.e, Words move, examples carry). You can preach wonderful things about Jesus Christ but if your lifestyle is opposed to what you say, then expect negative effects; and vice versa. Why were Paul and Barnabas called CHRISTIANS at Antioch? It was simply because they practiced what they were preaching (cf. Acts 11:22-26). The above is actually what is lacking in many Christians and ministers of today and that is why we are where we are. The Catechism is very clear on the above thus:
“… In order that the message of salvation can show the power of its TRUTH and RADIANCE before men, it must be AUTHENTICATED by the WITNESS of the life of Christians…” (cf. CCC n. 2044).
Let all of us, wake up and allow the Gospel we believe in and preach to always reflect in our daily lifestyles and choices. If we continue to fail in the above, then on the LAST DAY, despite our claims to have been Ministers and Church goers, Jesus Christ would say this to us: “… ‘I have never known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity…'” (cf. Matt 7:21-23ff).
May the Blessed Virgin Mary always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen🙏🏼
Happy Sunday and remain blessed!
(cf. CATECHESIS ‘NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE’ FOR THE 31ST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A);
READINGS: R1: Mal 1:14b-2:2b.8-10, R2: 1 Thess 2:7b-9.13, Gosp. Matt 23:1-12)
