HOMILY FOR FRIDAY THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

THE TRIALS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22; Psalm 33; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

“Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us; he opposes our actions, reproaches us for transgressions of the law, and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the Lord” (Wisdom 2:12–13). 

These words from the Book of Wisdom prefigure the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The ways of the righteous always annoy the unrighteous because they are reminded of their wrongdoings. 

Today’s gospel buttresses this truth; it says, “They sought to arrest him… and kill him, but his hour had not yet come.” They wanted to kill him because he was different; he knew God; he was the Son of God; and he stood for God in all situations. 

Let us seek to know God and build a personal relationship with Him. Let us stand for God, irrespective of the trials we go through. The enemies lie in wait for us, but we shall definitely prevail. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19).

Let us pray.

O God, who has prepared fitting helps for us in our weakness, grant, we pray, that we may receive their healing effects with joy and reflect them in a holy way of life. Amen.

Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai

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