HOMILY FOR TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A. 06.09.2020.

Watchman over the City

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95; Romans 13:8-10 and Matthew 18:15-20. 

HOW LONG WILL THE WATCHMAN REMAIN SILENT? 

 

There are so much grumbling in the society, some persons are suffering and smiling. Our people are dying in starvation, corruption, injustice, insecurity and so many other vices that brings pains and sadness to us, yet it seems no one is confronting these issues. If the voice of the poor masses is not loud enough, what about our leaders, specifically the religious leaders? Why are we so silent about the atrocities in the society? It seems we are so comfortable and have ceased to talk, or probably, we don’t want to be scapegoat and so we have become afraid to speak when we ought to and prefer we all die in silence. The liturgy of today reminds us of who we are, we are watchmen placed over the city. We are to identify evils or wrong doings and give corrective measures with love and with the aim of reconciling the offender with God.

 

In the first reading, we hear the prophet Ezekiel say, “You, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.” From the homily of Pope St. Gregory the Great on the book of Ezekiel, he described Ezekiel as a watchman whom the Lord sent to preach his word. He said, “A watchman always takes up his position on the heights so that he can see from a distance whatever approaches. Likewise whoever is appointed watchman to a people should live a life of the heights so that he can help them by taking a wide survey.” We are all watchmen at various levels, over our household or families, over the societal group placed at our care, we are watchmen over the parish placed under our us and on a superior level, a watchman over the Diocese... One way or the other, we have failed in our responsibilities and have acted negligently. We have failed to live a life of the height, we have failed to defend the flocks placed under us, we have failed to speak against evil because we don’t want to called ‘names’ and we have failed to correct with love.

 

When we fail to correct and correct with love, God says to us as He did to the prophet Ezekiel, “The blood of the wicked man will be on our hand.” Invariable, we are responsible towards others and have the responsibility to correct all wrong doings or evil with love. We must not be indifference to the decay in the society, family or moments our voices ought to be heard, when we remain silent to evil; it will be to the detriment of our future. However, the focal point of correcting errors or evil should not be to destroy but to win the sinner back to God. This is what Christ equally points out in the Gospel.

 

Resolving Conflicts Through Dialogue

In today’s gospel, Christ present to us principles on how we can win sinners back to ourselves and to God. Invariable, Christ is telling us that dispute, conflicts and other differences will surely rise among us. The problem are not the vices but resolving them amicably. Taking cognizance of the terminology used, “If your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault.” He did not say, “If you sin against your brother…” Practically, we are expected to make the first move of reconciliation not minding the offence of the offender. For this, he gave us three principles of reconciliation: first, is the one-on-one dialogue to win back our brother or the sinner; second is similar but with need of two or three witnesses and the third is to seek the aid of the Church or community. If the person in question refuses to listen or take correction on his or her evil, then treat him/her like a Gentile (pagan). Importantly, some of us don’t follow this principle, we are so fast to treat our enemies like pagans without provision for dialogue or the first, second and third steps. In view of this, we can learn and applaud the act of HRM. Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin on his attempt to dialogue with Oshiomhole and Obaseki on their existing conflicts, when he said, “Quarrel is certain among families, but there must be resolution.” The best resolution given to us is DIALOGUE. Dialogue fosters unity, respect, relationship and above all, it fosters love, which is evident in the second reading.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul reaffirm the teachings of Christ on mutual love. He said, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no wrong to neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Love is to guide all our actions that even when we correct the wrong or evil of others, there won’t be any form of offense. We are not meant to be arrogant while correcting the wrongs of others, we are meant to correct with love and humility. Let the offence be condemned and not the offender, and even when we are corrected, let us accept it in humility. By so doing, our love becomes mutual as we share responsibilities.

 

Reflecting on how long the watchman will remain silent, today’s liturgy urges Christians to speak and act against evil in the society. There are Christians nationwide, they exist among those who make our laws and implement them, even though they are not of equal ratio. Wherever we are and whichever position we occupy, we must speak and act against evil within our confines so that evil don’t triumph over good. It is quite unfortunate that among the ‘thousand and one’ problems that surrounds our nation, the government remains insensitive to the plight of the people. They have shown little or no concern about our people; less concern of those downsized from their jobs; less concern of the survival of Nigerians; less concern of workers that have received little or no salaries for months and have shown less concern for the existing high cost of transportation. Worst of it is the less concern for lives and properties being destroyed in southern Kaduna and the nation at large and what seems important to them is to inflict more pains on the people by increasing the price of fuel pump and electricity tariff. This is evil and should be condemned. "Let our worries not be on those who will be offended when we speak up or correct the wrong/evil, rather, let us be more worried about those who will be misled, those who will be deceived and destroyed when we do not speak.” May God help us through Christ our Lord. Amen!

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ