WHY ARE CHRISTIANS WICKED?

 *Sunday, October 8, 2023* 

 *27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A* 

First Reading. Isaiah 5: 1-7

Psalm 80: 8, 11.12-15, 17-19 (R. 5:7a)

Second Reading. Philippians 4: 6-9

Gospel. Matthew 21: 33-43

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION

 *WHAT TYPE OF CHRISTIAN ARE YOU?* 

If God should treat us according to our wickedness, who will survive? 

Cf. Psalm 130.

In our world today, we plant, nurture, harvest, eat and share wickedness. It is as if wickedness is part of our life.

What a terrible situation we find ourselves in. We abandoned the good God and embraced the bad devil who is the master planner of wickedness.

I once saw an accident scene on the internet recently where a filled fuel tanker trailer collided with a fully loaded commercial bus, and many people died, while some were half dead on the ground begging for help, yet no one cared to rescue them.

Hmmm, to my greatest shock, instead of people helping the accident victims, some stood aloof to video the accident scene, while the majority were rushing, climbing and jumping over the accident victims to steal fuel from the falling tanker.

When I saw the video, I wept. What has our country turned to? I asked, should we say there were no Christians among the people rushing to steal fuel from the falling tanker, or among those who were trying to video the accident scenes?

The fact is, our level of wickedness is becoming equated to that of the devil.

In truth, we are not what we profess.

-It is easier to profess Christianity with words than to profess it by faith 

-It is easier to say am a good Christian than to live the good life worthy of a Christian.

-We no longer value human life, but material wealth.

-Survival of the fittest made us lose the sense of human dignity, hence it does not matter if all died, so far I have achieved my selfish desire.

It is said that by their fruit, we shall know them. An authentic Christian is shown in action and not by words. Authentic Christians value human life.

Have you forgotten this common saying, injury to one is an injury to all, and any person who does not value his/her fellow human being, how can such person value God?

It was a scenario of such that made God lament in today's first reading, how He pampered and cared for the Israelites, yet they paid back with evil.

Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus told the parable about a vineyard which message means God sent many prophets to His people so they can repent, instead due to the wickedness of man, all the prophets were killed. Lastly, He sent His only son Jesus, and they gathered and killed Him. 

Yet, Jesus who was rejected became the cornerstone that all of us are calling to save us. Every individual wants God to save him or her, but not the neighbour,x why?

It is on this act of ungratefulness that St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians says: brethren whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these good things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

My dear, I will summarize that we should try to learn to be like God by imitating his saints like St. Paul advised.

 *Peace ✌️ be with you.* 

 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS*.