Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Week 29 Ordinary time - October 23, 2020

FRIDAY 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II Ephesians 4:1-6, Luke 12:54-59 DON'T LET EVIL ESCALATE Most times, we do not take things serious until they escalate. Most evils in our world today started as a little issue, more or less as if it was a joke. The #ENDSARS protest going round throughout the Nigerian nation started as if it was a little issue, but it has grown into a momentous movement that is not only asking for an end to police brutality but also bad governance that has brought about slavery and inhuman conditions in Nigeria. It is very obvious that the concern which many people have become conscious of did not start today, it is a conglomeration of all the suppressed anger over the years. This is why Jesus tells us in the gospel reading of today, that we should try and settle issues with one another when they have not escalated. We should not let things drag to a great length before we address then because at the end of the day, we may not survive it. If you have wronged someone and the person is angry, it is important that you take the issue serious and apologise; lest both of you go to the court and it gets messy. This is obviously where the government has failed to handle the situation at hand. They have failed to listen to the grievances of the people over the years and think that they will always get away with it. As Jesus advices us today, we should not only be concerned about knowing of irrelevant things as to if it wants to rain or shine, we should also know when to stop and apologise so that we will not be made to pay dearly for the evils we have done. Let us stop the sin today and apologise to God our father. We pray that almighty God help our country Nigeria so that we will not pay the last penny before we come to our senses. God help us. Amen Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP