Be Holy
Rev. Fr. Kingsley Chukwunonso Ogbu
St. Bernard 's Parish Ojiegbe Onunwakpu Igbeagu Izzi LGA Ebonyi State
Abstract
In this homily for Monday of Week 1 of Lent (Year A), Rev. Fr. Kingsley Chukwunonso Ogbu, SMMM reminds us that God calls us to holiness: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” (cf. Book of Leviticus 19:2). Holiness is not only about avoiding the “DON’Ts” of sin but also about practicing the “DOs” of mercy. Drawing from Gospel of Matthew 25:31–46, he emphasizes that we will be judged by our love in action — through justice, compassion, and the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Homily for Monday Wk 1 of Lent Yr A
Today God is calling us to be holy. "be holy as I your heavenly Father am holy". (Lev 19:2)
The call to Holiness is a call to imbibe the ordinances of the Lord and make an effort to follow and keep them. By so doing we will be righteous. We are therefore holy by being righteous in our relationship with God and in our relationship with our fellow human beings. To be holy is not just an effort to avoid the DONTs but to also do the DOs.
In the first reading of today we are shown the DONTs we must avoid (cf. Lev. 19:1-2,11-19). It says: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.
‘“You must not steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your neighbour. You must not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. You must not exploit or rob your neighbour. You must not keep back the labourer’s wage until next morning. You must not curse the dumb, nor put an obstacle in the blind man’s way, but you must fear your God. I am the Lord."
‘“You must not be guilty of unjust verdicts. You must neither be partial to the little man nor overawed by the great; you must pass judgement on your neighbour according to justice. You must not slander your own people, and you must not jeopardise your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord. You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart."
The Gospel pericope of today (cf. Mtt 25:31-46) equally tells us the DOs we shall do, stemming from the Corporal works of Mercy. These include: "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me". These are the expos to heaven, the things by which God will judge us on the last day.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask the good Lord for the grace to be holy not just by avoiding the DONTs but by also doing the DOs. This will enable us be called to the right hand side of the King, counted as the righteous ones who are sent to eternal bliss. We shall also be seperated from the unrighteous who are sent away to eternal damnation.
Peace be with you!
MARANATHA