Theme: THE DANGER OF BUILDING ON A FAULTY FOUNDATION
(Luke 11:47-54)
Jesus, in today's Gospel reading,
reproached the present generation that builds on the evils of the past
generation. He called them witnesses who give consent to the deeds of their
fathers. Their fathers killed and they built the tombs. They consolidated the
evil of their forefathers.
This is the sad tale of what the
prophets went through in Israel. It is a narration of an apparent defeat of the
good by evil over time. Thus, Jesus addresses the present generation; a
generation more enlightened than the past, a generation that God has visited in
person. Yet they lived loving and living according to past errors. Jesus
assures them if they fail to destroy the evil foundation to build a new one,
that they must pay for it. In his words, he pronounced: "... The blood of
all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of
this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and
the sanctuary."
What should be our attitude
towards erroneous and faulty foundations?
We should disconnect ourselves from them as much as possible. In a world
suffering from problems and evils created long ago, we should make a positive
change and difference. Such issues as racial discriminations are supposed to be
things of the past, but the world has continued transferring them from one
generation to the other. Various caste systems in different parts of the world
that should have given way for one love and unity are still plaguing us. The
same hatred that led to civil wars are still refreshed on daily basis, making
cold wars unavoidable. Family problems and disputes that took lives years past
are still taking lives today. People continue fighting an evil battle. People
are blinded by what they were told by their fathers and the promises they made
to them to uphold an evil course even after realizing they are making mistakes
and wallowing in error.
It is indeed a sin to support
evil no matter who is involved. Is it not time for us to tell ourselves the
truth and correct the mistakes of our fathers? Is it not yet time for African
youths to rise and correct the bad leadership status quo instituted by our
corrupt political forefathers? Has the time not come for the various neo-colonial
masters to liberate their captives even when they do not know that they are in
bondage? Is it not yet time for the western world to stop sponsoring terrorism
in the third world nations of Africa?
God will not smile at us if,
after seeing the mistakes of those who were there before us, we too make same.
It is evil to continue building on evil, to promote evil, to keep quite in the
face of evil, and to be compromised by the dividends of evil. Let the old evil
way be destroyed. Let the new begin. Let old way of intimidation and murder
stop, let the old way of sectionalism stop. Let the old way of religious crisis
stop. Let the old way of brutality in the hands of those who should protect us
stop. Let the old way of molestation and abuse of minors and vulnerable adults
stop. Let the evil of promoting anti life programs be discouraged. Let us build
on the solid foundation of love, peace and unity for progress, development, and
happiness.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, you have called
us to ensure we do not build on faulty foundations. There are many wrong
foundations in our families, in our marriages, in our country, in the Churches,
in our various institutions and workplaces. Your word said that 'foundations
once destroyed, what can the just do?' The just must hold unto you as the only
solid rock, as our Alpha and Omega, as our cornerstone. Even when the whole
world rejects this cornerstone, give us the courage to hold it firm and build
on with you as our architect. Make of us a beautiful edifice to the greater
glory of your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St Theresa of Avila, pray for
us
God bless your Thursday
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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