SERMON/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT 1ST MARCH 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT 1ST MARCH 2024

Gen.37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28; Ps.105; Matt.21:33-43, 45-46

Work for God too; to avoid Jealousy!

The first of today contains the wickedness of Joseph’s brothers towards him. They hated Joseph for a number of reasons: Joseph would always report their bad deeds to their father, their father loved Joseph more than the other brothers, and Joseph’s dreams indicated that the entire family will serve him. But then, these reasons were also an indication of Joseph’s gifts, namely: truthfulness, love and leadership. So, Joseph’s brothers hated him on account of his gifts.

Now, was it the case that Joseph’s brothers did not have their own gifts? NO! They too were gifted. At that time, Joseph was only 17, so he did not have the strength to go with them to the field to pasture the flock. But they could have used the opportunity of pasturing their father’s flock to so much please their father. They could also have repented of the bad deeds Joseph reported to their father. If they had done all these, Jacob’s love for them would have increased. In fact, was it not love that made Jacob to send Joseph to go check on the brothers working on the field? Maybe the brothers thought that by killing Joseph they will both thwart the future of serving him and convert the father’s love for him to themselves. Well, time taught them that none of these were possible.

Beloved, all of us have both the capacity and opportunity to repent and do great things that pleases the Lord. You can decide not to do the necessary, but you cannot stop your neighbour from doing the necessary. But then, do not become jealous when your neighbour starts enjoying the fruits of his/her faithfulness to God; for God will always reward good deeds.

See, all of us have the tendency to become jealous; we are human. But one thing that can help you overcome jealousy over your neighbour’s achievements, is when you have achieved something too. So, while we busy ourselves reconciling with God in this season of lent, let us also fan into greater flame the gifts God has given us. Look into yourself, discover those gifts you have but have left unused; begin to develop and use them. Students who take their academic seriously, rejoice together on the day results are issued. But those unserious students who did not come out in flying colours, busy themselves gossiping how the successful students “cheated”. If you don’t work for God now, one day, you will find yourself in the situation of Abel and Joseph’s brothers.