SERMON/HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT 16TH MARCH 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT 16TH MARCH 2024

Jer. 11:18-20; Ps.7; John 7:40-53

The moral standing for seeking God’s justice!

In the first reading of today, Jeremiah became aware of the plot against his life by his adversaries. It is not an empty threat. Jeremiah also acknowledges his inability to defend himself, for the plot against him is massive. Yesterday, we saw that it is no news that the enemy is always against the children of God. While this is to be expected, we must be discreet about our reaction. On this, Jeremiah becomes a model.

First Jeremiah declares his innocence before God. He refers to himself as a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. The justice of God is unlike the corrupt judiciary system of our nation where the highest bidder, not the innocent, gets the favourable judgment. God’s judgment will be in our favour only because we are innocent. If we are not innocent, then we first have to make amends for our wrongs; for he who come to the table of equity must do so with clean hands. It can be so ironical to find persons who are nothing but peaceful, seeking God’s help against their adversaries. Trouble makers are calling on God to fight for them. Wicked people are trying to take refuge in God. What about those who suffer in our hands? See, God is not to be mocked, neither can he be deceived. If we are not innocent, then we have no moral standing to seek God’s justice.

After declaring his innocence before God, Jeremiah moved on to hand over the situation to God. Know this, by strength shall no man prevail. You cannot overcome a sinful habit, or any battle against the devil with human wisdom and strength. While it is wrong to stay idle when hoping on God, it is equally absurd to struggle without calling on divine assistance. To feel too strong and sufficient to handle or that life brings to us, is itself a tactics of the devil to make us think that “I alone is enough – God is not necessary”. Pride goes before a fall.

One benefit of an ardent prayer life is that we cultivate the habit of having to always say something to Jesus and listen to him too. If you have that friend with whom you must communicate every other day, you soon realize that to keep the discussion going, you virtually have to be telling the person all that happens to you every time. If this friend is Jesus, then like Jeremiah, we will form the habit of handing over everything to master Jesus. Jesus is our surest refuge; He is our best friend. _E ticket no dey cut_ .