SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT 19TH FEBRUARY 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT 19TH FEBRUARY 2024

Lev.19:1-2, 11-18; Ps.19; Matt.25:31-46

The charity we must do!

The first reading of today is a detailed instruction from God to the people of Israel on how they must live charitably with themselves. Being an instruction means that kindness towards ones neighbour is not optional at all. I have full right over what is mine, but if I refuse to share with another who does not have, I become guilty. But why should I be guilty for keeping what belongs to me? It is because God gives us to share with others. Life does not present us with equal opportunities. Many persons are privileged or less privileged out of little or no fault of theirs. But everyone has got one opportunity or the other; meaning that everyone has something to share. So, we displease God if we are not sharing what we have received.

In the gospel reading, we see that this matter of sharing is very serious to the extent that it will form the basis of our judgment on the last day. So someone can go to hell just because he/she did not freely give what is his or her own! Yes, because we need to remind ourselves that just as we brought nothing into this world we have no right to hold anything so tenaciously.

In this season of lent, as we make effort to put off whatever stands in our way of having a robust relationship with God, let us carefully consider what we are doing with what God has given to us. _No use wetin God give you take pepper anybody!_ The present hardship in the land has almost turned our environment into a jungle whereby everyone is fighting for himself or herself. It is now a case of the survival of the fittest. These are indeed trying times not just in terms of meeting our needs but also in terms of doing the charity we must do.

Beloved, no matter what, still find reason to be nice, just, compassionate, loving, etc. No matter what, still try to stop the gossiping, backbiting, lying, injustice, selfishness, manipulation, and so on. At the end of the day, no excuse will be worth it if we miss this heaven. Take note, be nice to people not for any other reason but because of God. _las las, na you and God go talk the matter on the last day.