Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Godliness and righteousness are not matter of externals, but they flow from the goodness of one’s heart. To be acceptable to God is not a matter of compliance to rituals but one that involves cleansing of our inside-our hearts and minds from what is not of the Lord. Jealousy, envy, hatred and pride are among the few that we as Christians should be able to decide to cleanse from our inner being. They mislead us and deceive us with foolish suspicions that we effectively mistrust everyone. We become paranoid that people are ganging up on us and our subsequent reaction is to attack with unfair accusations which are not only unsound but uncharitable and certainly not characteristic of a follower of Christ. They cause us to sin and to spill out impurity…impure thoughts and deeds that are fit only for those who have decided to affiliate themselves with the Enemy. Today let us ask ourselves who invited jealousy, envy, hatred and pride and unforgiveness into our hearts. No one but our sinful nature! This is the reason why change should sincerely start from within us. Shalom!