THE UNBIASED NICODEMUS
(John 7: 40-53)
A lot of issues may be raised
from the Gospel of today. I am specially captivated by the person of Nicodemus
and the integrity he portrayed. In a society filled with biased persons, he
stood against their bias and prejudice.
While some people were busy debating
about where Jesus came from, others like Nicodemus were already sure that He is
the Christ. While some were held by the tradition which says that the Christ
must be descended from David, some others who have outgrown conventionalism
have known Him to be greater than David and a Saviour who has come from above.
While the chief priests and the Pharisees were concerned about arresting Jesus
on baseless claims hinged on corruption and dishonesty, it was obvious to the
officers that no one spoke like Jesus. There is always the division. But why is
it that the biased camp, the corrupt camp, the prejudiced camp always outnumber
the unbiased?
Thank God for the person of
Nicodemus. He will not judge without hearing and learning what the person does.
He is not interested about where one comes from and what people are saying
about him. He doesn't take decisions based on hearsay and gossips. He is not
biased by jealousy, pride or greed. He is not blinded by love for power or
personal perspective.
He was inviting the officers, the
chief priests and Pharisees to have a personal encounter with Christ to have an
objective idea of His Person. Nicodemus was warning them to be upright and
just. He was telling them: Jidekwanu ogu (be just), Egbula onye aka
ya di ocha (don't destroy the innocent), Onu mara ekwu (know what
you say about others), M mere gini wu ogu (the cry of the innocent
reaches heavens)
We are invited today to consider:
what has this person done to merit what I am about to do to him, what I am
doing to him, what am I allowing people to do to him? Does he deserve it? Does
he deserve the things I am saying against him? Does he deserve the treatment I
am giving to him? What is my basis for treating him the way I do? Am I acting
based on inherited hatred? Am I acting a
script giving to me by a wicked director? Am I punishing and fighting that
person for no reason or because of fear of what he will become?
May God forgive us for the times
we allowed bias and prejudice to make us arrest the good in others and stifle
the blessing of God from shining in the people around us.
LET US PRAY
Oh God, we live with biases and
with biased persons. Give us the grace to live above the judgments that are not
divinely inspired. May we not be in the party of those who fight against the
bearers of light. May we ever stand against evil plots no matter where they are
coming from through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless your Saturday (4th Week
of Lent)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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