SERMON: PADRE UMOH ON 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT

Homily for 2nd Sunday of Lent, 2023

The container that crushed me

By Padre Mike Umoh

1. In February 1999, I was driving along Orile in Lagos, where they sell Iron rods, when I noticed a rickety old truck carrying a long container carelessly sitting on it. It was badly tilted to one side.
2. I saw it ahead and I said to myself, this container will soon fall, only God knows when.
3. For that reason, I cautioned myself to remain on the same lane with the truck.
4. But at a point, the other lane by the truck moved faster ahead and I thought, why not move on and go your way. I did. BUT WHEN MY LANE STOPPED THE TRUCK LATER CAUGHT UP WITH ME AND stopped by my side. Then something said get ready….. JUST LIKE THAT, THE chassis of the truck gave way, and the CONTAINER FELL ON MY CAR. I SAW IT COMING, SO I BENT my body OVER ON THE PASSANGER SEAT.
5. It was already dark everywhere, around after 7 in the evening. The boys selling wares in the traffic started shouting. BUT There I was quietly, imagining to myself, so this is how people die. I said, Lord I thank you, I know u warned me. I said, waooo, let me see how long it takes for someone to die. I then started imagining how people will gather in my parish then, St Marys Catholic Church, Ajegunle for my burial.
6. Moments after the whole noise outside, the people got the long iron poles on sale and tried to rescue me. But the more they tried to lift the container up, the more it dropped harder on the car crushing me more.
7. Then I shouted from inside, I AM ALIVE PLEASE STOP. THEY HEARD ME. THEY STOPPED. I SAW A VERY SMALL OPENING SPACE FROM THE BROKEN WINDSCREEN. I SQUEEZED MYSELF OUT through there.
8. IN JUBILATION, PEOPLE LIFTED ME UP PRAISING GOD, BUT BEFORE THEY DROPPED ME, MY WRISTWATCH AND ALL IN MY POCKET WERE GONE.
9. That was a defining moment for me in my relationship with God! All who saw the vehicle never believed that any occupant came out alive. It was my transfiguration experience.
10. Through that event, I have a very personal and convincing encounter with God. It was certain, I was sure, I do not need anyone to tell me about the reality and the power of God again in my life.
11. It has been such that whenever the problems of life came my way, and by the way, I have had quite a handful, I simply connected with that encounter and derive assurance that the God who saved me from the crushing container will surely also save me from whatever it is. And if he does not, may His will be done.
12. Beloved in Christ, if we look back in our lives, if we take time to reflect, we probably recall such events where God manifested Himself in extra ordinary ways. THEY ARE OUR TRANSFIGURATION MOMENTS.
13. In our Gospel reading today, we are told how Jesus took 3 of his disciples up Mount Tabor.
14. The Transfiguration was the moment when the disciples were shown the divinity of Jesus on the Holy Mountain. The scene reminds us of how Moses encountered God on Mount Sinai, when his face, too, shone like the sun.
15. The awesome moment of transfiguration was to strengthen the faith of the disciples in view of the scandal of the cross. If the messiah must suffer all the shame and pain, it was necessary to assure the disciples that that would not be the end of the story.
16. There are some people who love to know the end of a movie before they even start watching it. The transfiguration event was to assure and strengthen the disciples that no matter how rough and shameful the encounter will be on the way, the journey to Calvary, there is something beyond…there is the glorious victory of the resurrection.
17. Some experiences in life where we specially encounter God serves same purpose. God uses such experience to reassure us of his power and abiding presence.
18. As Christians, we are the Children of Abraham whom we call our father in faith.
19. In the first reading, we learn of his initial encounter with God…. called from among his own people to go to a strange land. The call entailed Abraham leaving his comfort zone, abandoning the love and security of his people.
20. Scripture says: So, Abraham went as the Lord told him. That means Abraham trusted God and his promises. Abraham had faith in God. Though many trials came his way, Abraham never lost faith in God.
21. He was promised that the world shall be blessed through him. Though he went through thick and thin and many devastating moments, God kept his promise to Abraham.
22. In this way, the Lord prepared his people through Abraham for the coming of the promised Messiah
23. That process involved uprooting the self from comfort zone to unknown land; it was a movement based on faith, and not on facts.
24. The disciples of Jesus at the lakeside did the same: leaving everything, they followed Jesus.
25. We too as individuals are on a journey in life. Jesus, the way…the truth and the life… has called us to follow his steps which lead to the Father; it is these steps which lead to true freedom and lasting joy and happiness.
26. We are also called as a nation to follow these steps to freedom and happiness.
27. The way given us by Jesus has never ever failed to give peace in the world, only that men neglect it. If only humanity will embrace Christ, all conflicts and wars in the world will come to an end.
28. Today in Nigeria, many good people are worried about the events related to our last elections. Many are truly devastated. Many are left to wonder: Is God still with Nigerians? Why does it seem that evil is thriving in the land and the wicked ones seem to be having their way?
29. If we also reflect on our history, we know we too as a nation have had our transfiguration moments in the past. There have been moments in our history when God manifested himself so convincingly.
30. I wish to assure us that our God is the same yesterday, today and remains the same forever.
31. People may be able to snatch ballot boxes and change figures on votes, thereby trying to undermine the will of the people. But as long as they cannot stop the day from turning to night, and the night from turning to day, it means that there is still a supreme being who is above all and in control of all things.
32. The God of Abraham is a living and loving God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy. But more importantly, He is also a God of justice.
33. We must therefore make the response to the psalm our prayer: May your love be upon us O Lord, as WE PLACE ALL OUT HOPE IN YOU.
34. Placing all our hope in God means saying; I HAVE NO OTHER GOD BUT YOU; AND, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CANNOT DO!
35. Let those causing evil in the land repent and remember how short live is. Let us remember that we shall all stand before God to give account.
36. We urge people in government to stop playing politics with the lives of Nigerians and stop causing hardship on the people. God loves you and does not desire your death. Let us all turn to God in righteousness and build a beautiful and peaceful nation based on justice and truth.
37. God has blessed Nigeria more with than enough. Let us allow the resources of the land flow to the people. Let us stop this culture of waste and selfishness which bring sadness and pain to everyone.
38. God can satisfy all our needs, but he cannot satisfy our greed.As children of Abraham, let us all key into the promise and the blessing God made to our common Father in faith, Abraham.
39. Let me conclude this reflection with the words of our Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the CBCN President to all good people of Nigeria, irrespective of race or creed. He says:
40. ALL WHO LOOKED FORWARD TO CHANGE ARE IN GRIEF ON ACCOUNT OF THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. HOWEVER, THE DARKEST PART OF THE NIGHT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE DAWN. ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST! OUR TRUST IN GOD, WHO CAN MAKE ALL THINGS NEW, REMAINS UNSHAKEN.
41. Indeed, beloved in Christ, there will surely be joy in the morning, no matter how dark the night seems now.
42. May God comfort and heal all troubled souls and heal our land. May his peace, based on justice, prevail in our nation. AMEN.
43. O Lord my God, when I’m in awesome wonder, consider all the work thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed…..