Homily For Tuesday Second Week of Lent Year B, 27th February, 2024

Readings: Is. 1:10.16-20; Ps.50; Matt. 23:1-12

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DON’T BE “AN EYE SERVICE” OR HYPOCRITIC LEADERS LIKE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

 

One of the things that makes us unique from every other creature is leadership. Leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person, It is a gift from God by which we serve him and our neighbour responsibly. But this gift often has been abused and misused by people who were entrusted with the responsibility of leading others, just like the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel passage today, who had the responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven, but with their ugly ways of life,  they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

 

Hence, Jesus told his disciples that since the scribes and the Pharisees occupied the chair of Moses. They must therefore do what they tell them and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move any. Everything they do is done to attract attention.

 

Here, Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we teach. So, as Christians, we need to start practising what we preach, we need to do more witnessing than preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation; these kinds of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested in our way of life.

 

Thus, Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, and blind guides because they misused the gift of leadership entrusted to them. So, today we are called not to be like them, rather, we should be humble, committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with. Jesus made us to know that the greatest among us must be the servant of all. Because anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

Hence, prophet Isaiah tells us in our first reading to hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of the world; listen to the command of our God, you people of corruption. ‘Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of God’s sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

 

Dear friends, the world is full of eye service leaders with a Pharisaic spirit of greed, selfishness, pride and corruption. Are you one of such leaders? Don’t be an eye service or hypocritical leader for the world needs leaders who will be truly servants of the people at all levels of leadership beginning from the self to the family, to societies and other levels we may find ourselves. But what does it take to be a good leader? Jesus says humility that comes from a humble heart that wishes to serve and not to be served. A heart that understands that leadership is sacrificial. Can I be such a leader in my family, society and country?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, humanity are suffering because of corrupt, greedy, selfish and eye service leaders who occupy virtually every important position of leadership. As we embrace your words today, may we repent and become good leaders in our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a fruitful day.