STAND FOR THE TRUTH: GOD WILL BE WITH YOU AND SEE YOU THROUGH

HOMILY FOR 20TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C
By Rev. Fr. Solomon P. Zaku
One of the things that many people do not want to hear today is the truth. When you stand for the truth or try to tell people the truth many people will not like you. You will make many enemies or even be persecuted. As Christians we always need to tell the truth and stand for the truth no matter what it cost. When you stand for the truth, God will be with you and see you through. You may suffer, you may be persecuted but at the end victory will be yours.
The first reading of today presents us with the story of Prophet Jeremiah who was persecuted because he told the truth but at the end he was vindicated. Prophet Jeremiah lived in the 6th century Bc. At that time, Jerusalem was being besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The situation was desperate people were dying of Hunger. The Army officers wanted to continue to resist. Zedekiah the king, didn’t have courage to oppose the generals. Jeremiah spoke out. He asked them to surrender because they will not win the battle. What he said make the officers to tell the king to Kill Jeremiah because for them he has demoralized the soldiers. The king listened to them and let them put Jeremiah in to a well. But God was with Jeremiah because he spoke the truth. God used Ebed- Melech  ( a Cushite)to save Jeremiah by making the king to understand that Jeremiah was right. The king later ordered that Jeremiah should be pulled out of the well.
Like Jeremiah, as Christians we always need to tell the truth. We need to stand for Justice.  As we stand for the truth, we will surely face persecution and threats but we should not be discouraged because God will be with us. God will definitely see us through.
Today we live in a world where there is moral decadence. Many people are just following the ban wagon. People hardly tell the truth. Many people prefer to flatter than to tell the truth or  stand for Justice. We need people like Jeremiah who will tell the Authority the truth when things are not moving well in any organization or society. We need people like Jeremiah today in our country who will tell the exact situation of our country. Sometimes I feel some people who are supposed to tell our president of our country Nigeria are not telling him the truth. I wonder if our president know the true security situation of our country. We thank the Catholic Bishop’s conference of Nigeria who some time ago went to Aso Rock and told the president the true situation of the country.
All of us have the responsibly of standing for the truth. We must not just follow the famous Nigerian Dictum “if you cannot beat them you Join them”. We need to speak. God will be with us.
We should not be surprised if we are rejected or persecute because we are standing for the truth. Jesus has already told us right from the beginning that being his disciple is not going to be an easy task.
In the gospel reading of today Jesus Said “I have come to bring Fire on earth” what does that mean? Which kind of Fire is Jesus talking about?  The message of Jesus is the fire that will cause problem; it will shake up lives of many people. The purveyors of injustice will be disturbed by the gospel. The fire that Jesus talked about is the fire that saves and purifies. Jesus came to bring fire of love and truth which is able to offer clear opposition to error while always loving the person who is in error. Jesus came to bring fire of great desire, the fire of great passion, the potential for virtue, the holiness for dedication, for self –sacrifice, for chastity.
Jesus also said he has not come to bring peace but division. What does that mean? What will bring division? The message that Jesus brought will be the one that will bring division. This is because, it is not everybody that will accept the message of Christ. In our time today, we have seen the fulfilment of what Jesus said. There are so many families today that are divided. Many people are rejected even by their parents because they are Christians. There are many people that are put to death even by their brothers because they profess Christianity. Jesus has already told his disciples that anyone who does not prefer him to his parents, brothers or sisters is not worthy to be his disciples.
The second reading of today encourages us to remain focus. We are called to look up to Jesus who is the Author and finisher of our faith. St. Paul compared us with athletes who are running. We are on a pilgrimage. We must therefore run our race with determination. Let us not allow the suffering of this world and persecution to stop us from achieving our goals. Like Jesus let us try to endure all things that will come our way as we strive to stand for the truth and for Justice. Jesus gain victory for us through the cross. We too will be victorious if we persevere to the end. The saints are there to help us.
I pray the lord will grant us the grace to remain, faithful focus and determined. Let us always remember that with God on our side, we shall be victorious. May the grace of God abide with us always through Christ our Lord. Amen.