WAR: CRIME AGAISNT GOD AND HUMANITY (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 18TH WEEK IN THE ORDIANRY TIME) DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR

Theme: War: crime against God and Humanity

Nahum 1:15; 2:2; 3:1-3, 6-7.   Matthew 16:24-28

Homily for Friday of the 18th week in the ordinary time (Dedication of the basilica of a. Mary major)

In the first reading of today, Prophet Nahum foretold the destruction of Nineveh and condemned the sin of the ruthless military power of the Assyrian Empire whose capital was Nineveh for their engagement in wars and battles that had caused so much bloodshed, destruction of institutions and values, hunger, poverty, homelessness, it reads: Ah! City of bloodshed, utterly deceitful and full of booty - no end to the plunder...Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, the pulse of the dead, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end. They stumble over bodies (Nahum 3:1-3).

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the Holy Mother Church in totality condemns any act of war aimed indiscriminately at the destruction of entire cities or extensive areas along with their population as a crime against God and humanity. This according to the church, merits unequivocal and unhesitating condemnation. 

We must rather follow the footsteps of Christ Jesus and be men and women of peace and dialogue. Any act of war can be avoided if and only if leaders give room for peace and dialogue. Thus, leaders must remain mindful of the account they must render to God on every decision they make on the corridor of authority. Leaders are to be men and women of peace, unity and harmony. 

In the Gospel reading, Jesus sets before us the condition of authentic voluntary followership. He says: if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). (1)By denial of oneself, we reject our old nature and embrace conclusively the ways of God as the dominant principle of life. (2) the taking up of the cross reminds us that Christian life is a life of sacrifice towards God and our neighbour (3) By following Jesus, we acclaim that Jesus is our leader, our model and our guide. As followers, we need to obey the instructions of the leader.

Friends in Christ, Jesus reminds us that the cross is indispensable in the Christian life. Via the cross of Christ, the Christian message and mission are identified. Let us be preachers of the values of the cross of Christ that borough our salvation. Let's not denigrate the relevance of the cross for the Christian vocation finds its meaning around the cross.  We live in a world where people want an easy life and want to cut corners to get to the end by disregarding the way of the cross, and this had brought so much harm and destruction to their lives and society.

Beloved in Christ, the Christian is the way of the cross. Remember, those who want to save your life will lose it, and those who lose their life for the sake of Christ will find it (Mt 16:25).

May God continue to enlighten our hearts and minds to constantly uphold Jesus as our leader and guide on the way to salvation.

God bless you fervently

Fr Remi osj