HOMILY OF 5TH SATURDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
HOMILY OF 5TH SATURDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: YOU AND THE WORLD
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul
‘If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you’
(John 15:18).
Before we look for an easy access, we should get used to the fact that we are not promised an easy life. Jesus never said ‘Follow me and it will be an easy and uneventful life.’ He actually said: ‘If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.’ The ‘world’ here means people who oppose God and His revelation of love. So that anyone who begins to live in a more committed and responsible way becomes a sign of contradiction to others; so he or she meets with opposition and hatred from others.
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We live in a world where abnormal people see people who are normal to be abnormal. If you are in the midst of people with deviant lifestyle, you become the abnormal one. A Christian is a serious sign of contradiction because the world defines its values as different from Christian’s. But whatever form of persecution we face in life is never new because Jesus faced them all.
Following Jesus requires sacrifice. The Bible tells us that God’s grace ‘teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age’ (Titus 2:12).
Following Jesus also requires us to endure the difficulties and the persecution we may face. Living Jesus’ way means living counter-culturally. We won’t be speaking, acting or thinking like other people. We will be aiming to speak, act and think like Christ. That makes us stand out and may cause us to face hard times because of it. Paul faced a huge amount of persecution when he followed Jesus. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned and shipwrecked. But he rejoiced in his sufferings. And he knew that it would all be worth it. He said: ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:2). Following Jesus is always worth it. His way of life is better than any other way. He offers us life to the full (have a look at John 10:10) and He promises to be with us, strengthening us through all the trials and persecution. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God heal Nigeria, bless and protect us through Christ Our Lord Amen.
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