Homily For Friday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd February, 2023

Readings: Heb. 13:1-8, Ps.26, Mark 6:14-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

CAN YOU STAND FOR TRUTH AND DEFEND THE INNOCENTS AGAINST PRIDEFUL AUTHORITY?

 

Lucky Dube in one of his album said that he who stands for the truth will always stand alone. This is the case with John the Baptist whose head was the prize for the truth he told Herod and Herodias as we read in the Gospel passage today. This terrible crime, which points at what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrates how good people, especially when they struggle for justice, are condemned to suffer in the hand of greed and powerful people who become very cruel and as a result the innocent suffer.

 

The root of the whole problem is that king Herod made unwise promise out of pride, but finds it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so, because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others, he feared the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retracts his oath. Thus, the head of the innocent, who was in prison for speaking the truth was sacrificed on the altar of human ego.

 

Dear friends, can you  stand for truth and defend the innocents against prideful authority? How far can we stand for the truth we professed. Or Like Herod, how often do we make unwise promises out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong. If today we happen to be one of the Herod’s guests, what would have been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? So how do we react, when we see others suffering injustice?

 

Perhaps, today we can think of all the victims of truth in our societies, the vulnerable, the innocent in our society and all those who are exploited and used to achieve the ends of others. These ugly events in our society, how are we confronting them? Do we have the courage to speak up or protest, even at the cost of our heads and our lives? Little wonder we were told in our first reading to continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

 

Also, we are told to keep in mind those who are in prison like John the Baptist, as though we were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since we too are in the one body. As regards to the ugly attitudes of Herodias, we are reminded that marriage is to be honoured by all. Therefore, we are  to ensure that marriages are kept undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. We are called to put greed and pride out of your lives and be content with whatever we have; for God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace to stand for the truth and help us never to make unwise promises. May you direct our intentions and guide our words so that we may grow in compassion for the innocent victims in our families, societies, country and the world at large, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  God bless you.