The Sign of Christianity-HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 21ST JULY 2023

The Sign of Christianity-HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 21ST JULY 2023

Exodus 11:10-12:14; Ps.116; Matthew 12:1-8

The Sign of Christianity

In the first reading of today, the Lord gave clear instructions to Moses and Aaron for the Israelites. Amongst the things that the Israelites will do, the Lord asked that they smeared their door posts and the lintel of their houses with the blood of the lamb whose meat they will eat with their household. The Lord said that any house that is smeared with the blood of the lamb will be spared when He (the Lord) shall go round striking the first born of man and animal in the land of Egypt.

Since the instruction was given to the Israelites, it was to ensure that only the Egyptians suffer the death of their first born. The question now is this: does an omnipotent God need the mark of blood smeared on door post to differentiate the houses of the Israelites from those of the Egyptians? Was God so much dependent on the marking of blood such that without it, He will make mistakes?

The smearing of their doors and lintel with the blood of the lamb was not in a bid to direct God when He comes to strike the first born of the Egyptians. Surely, God does not rely on human direction for His actions. Instead, the smearing of their houses with the blood was to be for the Israelites, a sign of their covenantal relationship with God. The sign is to be a visible element that will always remind the people that they are God’s people. The sign was to make them always conscious of their identity as God’s children. The sign was to remind them that they were set apart for the Lord. So, bearing the sign meant that one has given his/her consent to the tenets of the covenant. So, for the Israelites, the effect of the sign of the blood on their houses goes beyond be spared from death; it extends to living henceforth in obedience to God’s commandments.

Today, every covenantal relationship goes with signs. The liturgical worship itself is associated with so many signs beginning and ending with the sign of the cross. Our going to Church is a sign; descent dressing is a sign; living righteously is a sign; raising responsible Christian family is a sign. Frequenting the sacraments is a sign. These and many more, are signs of a covenantal relationship with the God of the Christian Faith.

We cannot be Christians in the real sense of the word and not be associated with the various signs that go with it. So, it is utter foolishness to justify ones lackadaisical attitude towards going to Church, frequenting the sacraments, modest dressing, charity and so on, on the basis of “Church dey mind”. While it is possible to put on the signs of Christianity and still not be authentic; it is however impossible to be authentic and be without the signs. The Lord wants us to be set apart for Him and also to remain a sign for Him in this world.