DATE : 20/3/2021
EVENT : Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
COLOUR: Violet
READINGS : Jeremiah 11:18-20; Resp. Psalm 7:2-3,9-12; John 7:40-52.
THEME: DO NOT ALLOW FEAR TO CRIPPLE YOU
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twentieth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Do Not Allow Fear To Cripple You". Beloved in Christ, one of the greatest weapons of the enemy is fear. He will always try to project fear of the unknown into you, so that your faith level will drop. The Devil knows that a faithful and fearless Christian is like a solid rock that cannot be penetrated, so he tries to weaken your faith. He does this by bringing in suggestive doubts into your mind, by focusing your eye on the situation rather than on God. He tries to magnify the situation in your eyes, he tries to make you remember similar people that have been defeated by similar situation in the past. He reminds you of your sins, your guilts, and your shortcomings before God. He does all these just for fear to grip you, and that he may carry out his evil plans. So, beloved, we need to be strong, and aware of the evil schemes of the enemy.
In the readings of today, especially the first reading, Jer. 11:18-20, we heard how God opened the eyes of Jeremiah, and allowed him to see the evil schemings of the enemy. Now, beloved, we must realise that the Devil is not a careless or foolish fighter, he does not waste his arrows on an already fallen Christian. He preserves them for the strong and standing ones, inorder to bring them down also. So, the very fact that you are been attacked for no reason, that you are innocent and blameless, that you pray and fast very well, and that you try your best to live a holy life, is enough reason to draw jealousy, envy, and hatred from the enemy. These situation is best brought out in the Gospel reading of today, John 7:40-52, where the Pharisees and elders began to plan to outwit Jesus, because of his good works and they became jealousy of the relevance he was garnering for himself. So, they began to plot how to eliminate him. But, being one who is aware of his identity and the schemes of the enemy, he did not allow fear to cripple him or deter him from continuing on his task.
Beloved in Christ, as a believer, you need to develop a tough skin, a tough heart, and a tough will. Listen up, the spiritual life is not for the fainthearted, it is not for the weak, it is not for does afraid to die. It is not for those afraid to suffer pain, hurt and rejection. If you have not been seriously under the siege of the enemy before, then it is either you are a bread and butter Christian or that you are already a fallen Christian soldier. Because the Bible tells us that the Devil does not rest, he is always fighting, scheming and trying his futile efforts to bring down the faith of many Christians as would allow him (1Pet. 5:8). So, beloved, do not allow the fear of the unknown to cripple your faith in God and your efforts at holiness. Do not be discouraged when temptations and jealousy come your way. Instead, stand your ground, trust that God is able to handle every situation, to keep you safe from evil and try your best not to allow fear to make you deviate from the right path. God bless you.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
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