DATE : 13/4/2021
EVENT : Tuesday of the Second Week of Eastertide/St. Martin I, P. M
COLOUR: White/Red
READINGS : Acts 4:32-37;
Resp. Psalm 92:1-2,5;
John 3:7-15.
THEME: CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Thirteenth day of April, which is the second day of the Second Week of Eastertide, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Christian Socialism". Beloved in Christ, there is a falsified truth, which has been socially transmitted, and which everyone has come to accept as an authentic truth. It is the fact, that certain persons can claim to own or possess the resources of nature. Let me put it this way. Although, we all came into this world naked and empty, certain persons out of divine privilege and chance, have been granted access to the corridors of wealth and the world resources. So, they now erroneously deceive themselves that they own whatever material possessions that has been granted them. The truth of the matter is this, nobody truly owns any thing in this world. At best, a person can be a temporary custodian of a particular resources, and with time he Will bequeath it to others and bow out of the stage when death comes calling. Whatever possession we have dear friends is not completely for us. We are meant to help in distributing the resources so that everyone can live a comfortable life. Thus, if you keep amassing wealth without sharing with the poor and needy, you are no different than the rich fool of Luke 12:13-21, and his lot, will not be different from yours.
In the first reading of today, Acts 4:32-37, we are told that the early Christian community live a life of perfect socialism. No body owned anything for one'sself. Everything was owned in common. Those who owned belongings sold them and brought the complete proceeds to the community of believers, and handed them to the Apostles, who in turn distributed it to everyone according to the need of each. Thus, nobody was too rich to forget God, and no one was too poor to complain to God. In fact, we were told that a certain Joseph, whom the apostles named Barnabas, sold his entire possessions and brought the proceeds to the Apostles. This was exactly in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, who had taught that charity to one's neighbour is worth more than a thousand words of charity. The surprising thing was that, the community ownership of the common wealth was not done out of compulsion, force coersion, or deception. It was completely a free act, done generously by each member out of genuine love for God and the neighbour.
Child of God, although, there has been debate against the doctrine of socialism. One of which suggests that Socialism limits the innovative potentials and talents of people. It promotes laziness and sloth. That it is unjust to those who genuinely put in more effort in productivity than others. So, everyone cannot have equal share of the resources. Inasmuch as I do not completely subscribe to the deformed form of Socialism practiced by some countries, I definitely believe that every one deserves a fair share of the world's resources, irrespective of their contributions to the labour force. Most importantly as Christians, we should lead the way in showing the world's resources belongs to everyone and if we shun greed, avarice, wicked and inequality, every one will be relatively comfortable. So dear, friends, if you are in an opportunity to distribute material relief to people, please do so with all sense of uprightness and truth. If you have enough resources to last you a while, it won't be a bad idea if you support the poor and the needy with the little extra you have left.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, guide our leaders and government, that they may practice equity and justice in the distribution of the resources that you have made available for all your children..
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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