HOMILIA : Jumatano katika Juma la tano la Kwaresma

WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 2020 . Fifth Week of Lent.

Rev. Deacon. Samuel Muhanji Nyonje 

Theme: FREEDOM IS CHOOSING GOD

Readings: 

Daniel 3:13-20,24,49-56,91-95

Gospel:  John 8:31-42

Greetings of the new month of April dear friends, brethren in our Lord Jesus Christ.

My dear friends, the world today is obsessed with personal freedom.  The world has abused the notion of freedom to the extent that it has become a new form of slavery. To an extend today, many people have become addicted to drugs and other kind of pleasures as a form of freedom according to their convictions . This I term as slavery under the guise of freedom.

Freedom is not an option to choose good or evil.  This for St. Augustine is free will. However Freedom is the ability to choose life, love and truth.  When one lacks the capacity to do what is true and good, one has lost his or her freedom.  He or she is a slave of the world and a slave of Satan.  

This is what we experience in the first reading. King Nebuchadnezzar under the power of golden gods is forcing the three devoted men to worship his gods. What is exemplary with these three men is their choice to remain and worship YAHWEH the true God.

Their torture is a form of conversion to the hard-hearted king. Is this what God asks of us? The disposition, firmness in faith amidst the fear of furnace , mockery and abuses they still choose to worship the true God who's love. He's infringing the freedom of worship by forcing others to his religion. This is a kind of dictatorship. This form of governance is apparent in most African states, to some extend we have seen and experience this in our country in various public offices, homes and private arenas where most especially Christians are forced to denounce their faith so that they make seek job.

Beloved in the Lord, we must come back to the true meaning of freedom, which is to be faithful to the truth. In whatever we do, we must always ask, whether it is true, whether it is good, whether it serves life, love and truth. This then is true freedom as acclaimed by our Lord, he's the way, truth and life.

Today, we are asked to stand up for what we believe to be the truth, especially in our faith.  Do we have the courage to be like the three young men in the first reading? Dear youths in the Church, if you were in such harsh treatment of these three men, would you choose the truth? 

How, then, can we remain true to our faith so that we enjoy true freedom? First we must live by the Word of Christ that was made flesh. Secondly we must fight to reclaim our dignity, as persons and as sons and daughters of God. 

Today, I compare the furnace / higher degree flame of fire to the Covid-19 in our planet. I compare King Nebuchadnezzar to the source of this virus, be it an economic pride of developed state or persons. Amidst this test of faith I choose to remain steadfast in my faith as Son/ Daughter of God redeemed by Christ Jesus. I believe that the Lord will send his Angel to help us in this fire, just as he sent his Angel to rescue Meshack, Shadrack and Abednego. 

Wishing you fruitful new month and healthy weeks of April.