MAKING A DIFFERENCE – THE REV’D PROF. ‘KONYINSOLA AJAYI S.A.N. ”God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life ... But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil …; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good … For God does not show favoritism.” Ω 1. Ebola as we all know is a terrible disease akin to the plagues and pestilence of old – given its rapaciousness in killing its victims in a terrible way, and in consequence disabling societies. A disease so deadly that even upon the death of its always unwilling host, there remains a lasting stigma and fear of its power after death, and thus denying the victim of what is regarded as a traditional burial. So powerful is this ailment that it has mutated to create yet another disease, with a hyper-geometric rate of contagion. Attesting to this, no less an influential tool than CNN Opinion had this to say: “Right now, two-thirds of Americans are suffering from ‘Fear-bola,’ according to a new Washington Post poll. Its a hyper-contagious disease that affects the brain, making sufferers fear a widespread Ebola outbreak in the United States. Fear-bola is an airborne disease that spreads through conversation, entering your brain through your ears. Fear-bola is so contagious that some victims have contracted it by simply seeing images and videos about Ebola. Once inside your body, Fear-bola attacks the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking ... Fear-bola is dangerous because it leads to confused decision-making and illusions ... Fear-bola can also affect institutions. Navarro College, a small community college outside Dallas, has contracted Fear-bola and has stopped accepting students from countries with confirmed cases of Ebola, according to The Daily Beast. Navarro has rejected every student application from Nigeria, a country with 174 million people and 20 cases of Ebola ... As you can see, Fear-bola is extremely dangerous at an institutional level because it leads to widespread discrimination ...” Although a parody, this presents a clear picture of the nature of what we confront and unmasks the nature of the putative Christian or doer of good behind a mask. For these ones, it is always easy to speak words of motivation, to promote love and the virtues of a logical approach to others, but it suddenly becomes beyond difficult to apply those same standards and expectations to themselves. 2. Indeed Ebola not only betrays itself but also exposes the betrayal of man. Not only does it disable its victim, it also disables non-victims. It disables many from - reaching out to neighbours; being warm; showing love by that handshake or brotherly hug or kiss. Ebola has shown the hypocrisy in many – the mask of being good; the lie to being neighbourly; the failure of the rich, able and thriving to come to the aid of the disabled, the dying and perishing. This is just an exemplar of the many things happening in our world today - one in which so many are disabled and the situation begs the inevitable question: are you making a difference in a world of incapacity? 3. Let us pray: God Almighty, the Great Creator, you who made us all in your image and after your likeness, teach us as we go into your word, to discern you in all men that we see, and serve you in all that we do, so our good deeds may attract your peace, glory and honour and our hearts may radiate the love you have freely given to us – we ask through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen 4. The theme of my homily today is “making a difference” in loving God and one another, and is based on the related lectionary readings of the day, especially Matthew 22:34 – 46 which says in verses 37 - 39: “37Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” This well-worn passage carries the need, in our present realities of great disabilities, for remembrance of the responsibilities of every one called to the true path of life – which is Christianity. This sermon, therefore, seeks to underscore, as shown in the opening words of this sermon, (and in particular, Romans 2:10), that good deeds attracts God’s peace – just as it brings glory and honour to all who persist in doing good: that is, loving God and neighbour. 5. A famous question once again arises - who then is your neighbour? Going by one of our many hymns, anyone of disability who you have the ability to help or assist is your neighbour – relying I guess on English language definition of neighbour as any person in need of ones help or kindness and even more on our lord Jesus’ definition of who a neighbour is in the parable of the Good Samaritan. This you can say is one of the ways to view a central theme of our faith, as surmised in the Gospel reading of the day. This is a reaffirmation of the last verse of the related Old Testament reading of the Christian lectionary: Leviticus 19:1 – 2 & 15 – 18, which says: “You shall … love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.” Today in considering the neighbour to love I limit myself to those in need, especially the disabled – those impaired in physical but for me more so spiritual ways. In truth, many generally take the disabled to be those who as a result of some disease, injury, or accident, are limited in their movements, senses, or activities. 6. But as can be seen, incapacity or disability goes beyond this notion. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disability is an evolving concept, seeking to describe the condition of persons with restrictions or: “… impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others …” This is as far as concerns human beings all who are entitled to non-discrimination, and effective enjoyment of life as a Christian. It is thus a significant disability not to enjoy the benefits of the prevenient grace of God; and the exceeding riches of His love and blessings – made manifest in the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of His only Begotten Son. 7. Beyond persons, disability also displays itself in other forms; as is, for example, evident in our governments up and down Nigeria. Governments unable to tackle the menace of terrorism and insecurity; corruption and dishonesty; poverty and social disability – basic expectations of good government. Governments that are for the most part severely disabled. But I guess today, our government will say even the great and mighty have great incapacity to deal at once with ISIS and Ebola – probably the two greatest existential threats of the day. 8. In a world going through such turmoil as we see, the focus on who your neighbour is, and what as a Christian, (who as the name implies, aims to replicate Christ), your duty is to him or her, or both, has assumed great importance. Clearly, those who today know what both are and act in accordance with the injunctions of God on this account are blessed. These are the ones whom we celebrate today; as we celebrate and give thanks to God to all those who benefit from the works of faith and love, the good deeds, of good Christian soldiers. 9. Today we speak the word of God concerning good deeds that attract God’s peace – peace that passeth all understanding, peace that keeps hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, our Father, and His Son, our Lord and Saviour. Today, truly is a day of joy, for amongst many other reasons, we must rejoice at the formation, but more so the 30th anniversary, of CODISA – a body formed to do the work of God in carrying out good deeds with respect to the disabled. We rejoice at the staying power, powerful faith, and unrequitting love of the old men and women who heard the call to form and run this body, and who heeded that call and remained faithful to it. 10. About these soldiers of Christ, this is what the Lord said, putting Isaiah 23:1 – 3 in my words: on the day of liberation, your day of joy, He will make salvation the wall and ramparts of your home and your city; He will open His gates so the righteous and faithful like you, who have served the Lord in demonstration of love to the poor and displaced; and He will keep you in perfect peace – for trusting in Him. And so shall it be for you too. Amen. 11. But for this to indeed be the same for you as has been prayed, you too must clearly make a difference, by your good deeds. When Ebola broke out in the land of our neighbours in March 2014, there is no doubt we as citizens or residents of Nigeria thought it was something far away, a distant disease, plaguing people whose lives we were not involved in, and as a consequence, really of no concern to our ever shifting attention, talk less of good deeds in coming to the aid of those dying and perishing and the societies disabled in its wake. Joining in our culpability was our government, whose disability was again on display, for its failure as the region’s big brother, or as mother to child, in coming to the aid of her neighbours. But in all this, let us in fairness, acknowledge that for once in a long time, Nigeria can boast of world-class epidemiological work that set it free from Ebola, just as it is pleasing to note the state and its people have since offered themselves and their substance in aid of our disabled neighbours. 12. In this one finds true the saying that it is better late than never, to do good deeds and thus not be adjudged of being guilty of evil; bearing in mind that those who do other than good deeds according to Romans 2:8-9 will suffer trouble and distress; in addition to the wrath and anger of God, as opposed to His peace. Thus, I ask you today to honestly search your heart and examine whether you have made a difference in your immediate environment to all those in need of your help, and if not, to remember that you must fear the Lord who says we must take care of these ones. Also remember, just like the case of our dear nation and the rest of the international community, it is never too late to start doing good. 13. As a caveat, it must be expressly stated that what we do must be from the heart, an act of worship and a means to being a living sacrifice. Let it not be a matter of corporate social responsibility by which you increase your social capital; neither should it be a question of swimming with the tide; nor fear of public opprobrium or peer pressure; talk less of the pretentious rise to the aid of the poor and disabled as a matter of self preservation. This has been the accusation in some quarters that Britain and others have now only swung into action, seeing the threat of disablement by Ebola coming to their shores. This accusation would never have been aired if the world had responded as neighbours ought to, with love and prompt attention, to the needs of another, rather than respond when heart wrenching letters for help are written. 14. Let it not be a little too late, for at times delay defeats the good we intend to do. This we see in the response of the international community, with ability, to Ebola. As Kofi Annan said this is conduct about which he like many, are bitterly disappointed, for it is clear that it is a little too late with the death toll in the region estimated to spike before it falls, with up to about 10,000 infections per week by December 2014 according to the World Health Organisation. 15. Christ, the Hope of Glory and Horn of Salvation charges all of us called to a ministry of deliverance. Deliverance of our neighbours from the clutches of disability in the many forms it comes: be that of any of our senses, or even that of movement or freedom as a result of unjust captivity. You must see yourself as an Apostle of Christ with the charge, as He said in Matthew 10:8 to: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” This is the good deed you must do to make a difference, and it need not be by miracle – for healing, comfort and freedom from these disabilities come in several forms. 16. Christ the Great Physician, is near, and calls on you recognising that the harvest of good deeds is plenty but those who make a difference few. That this is true is well exemplified by the experience of CODISA who have on behalf of those that make a difference in the good deeds they do cried out that: “The committee has 30 homes registered with it … Because of limitation of available funds, the committee is never able to go round all the homes in any one year …” So what are you doing to make a difference with your time and substance to the good deeds, which attract God’s peace? For we know, what is in hand, is not nearly enough to deal with the needs at hand. 17. Taking CODISA and the congregation of the Chapel of the Healing Cross as representative of all of us, the evidence is that we have left these good deeds to those who started it: old men and women. In corroboration of this fact is witness of CODISA thus: “Many young members of the chapel erroneously think that the committee is an extension of the Elder’s forum because they see a lot of grandpas and grandmas in the committee. We pray that the Lord will change their hearts and grant them the understanding to see that participation in the work of CODISA is just one other way of serving the Lord.” [Though, some young ones have yielded to the call, nonetheless], evident in this statement is the fact that too many of us neglect to do good deeds required of us to make a difference to God and fellow man – as the injunction to love requires. The call to remember the Lord in the days of your youth is no mere call to simply dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It is a call to use your strength and agility, both of body and mind, to serve God by volunteering, submitting and investing yourselves to make a difference, and CODISA is a good place to start. 18. The bounden duty of all and more so the youth, those with a longer lease of life, the ability and strength, is to do the Master’s will. To buttress the charge in the day’s gospel reading to make a difference by loving God and fellow man, are the immortal words recorded in the continuation of the Gospel according to Matthew 25:31 – 40 which reminds us that: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory …. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 ‘Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” The words underscore in this passage articulates best how God’s peace is attracted by good deeds, as it tells you how the ultimate gift of God is bestowed, and how the helping hand to that neighbour is a helping hand to Christ – who Peter tells us in Acts 10:38, went around doing good. 19. So every time you make a difference by contributing to the betterment of the disabled you actually do it for our Father in heaven who says in Exodus 4:11 “Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made mans mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” If the state of any man is not his making, why then will you discriminate and not regard him as worthy of your good deeds – when Romans 2:11, just as Acts 10:34, tell us God does not discriminate nor show favouritism? 20. So what must you do? How else can you sow good deeds? • First, I call to mind Luke 14:12,13 which says: “… When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind …” This is a passage that means what it plainly says: do not show favouritism and do good to only those who can repay you; rather bring home and treat those that cannot repay you, so your Father in heaven can reward you with His peace, glory and honour. • Second, note the warning of the Almighty in Leviticus 19:14 “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” In other words, it as good as cursing the deaf if there are no good deeds to them from you; just as it is more or less placing a stumbling block in the path of the blind, if you do no good to them. You block the progress of the disabled if you make no difference to the ability of the blind at the school for the blind to read, or the handicapped to work. When you do good deeds to these ones, you bring joy to them and indeed to the world - as has been the success case of many including Opeoluwa Sotanwa. A man from lowly beginnings in the rural town of Isara-Remo, deaf from birth, now Executive Director of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. His story like that of many others is worth telling. In sum let your light shine and be a pathway to mobility and ability for those of disability. 21. It is indeed to the glory of God that we have the disabled amongst us, for John 9:2 - 4 says “And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work …” When you make a difference with your good deeds to those in need you ensure the glory of God is manifest to all. 22. For a moment let me cross over and speak about those we call disabled. In truth are we not all disabled in one way or the other, or who really is able to do all things? But even to those we call disabled, the blind, the deaf, the lame and the dumb, I tell you, following Isaiah 43:4 that you are precious and honoured in God’s sight, because He loves you, for Christ died for you too. This is attested to by Psalm 139:13 - 14 by which you can say: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mothers womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” You must thus move forward in life as an anointed, playing your part in helping others who do not have the ability you have – for to all are given some gift or the other, if not fruit, by the Holy Spirit. 23. The Gospel reading at the Chapel of the Healing Cross today, Matthew 10:34 – 42, in sum adumbrates the theme of this homily as it speaks to the reward of those who lending a helping hand; those who take their cross of making a difference; those who love Christ more than themselves or family; those who take care of Christ by taking care of the disabled as Christ Himself demonstrated. This passage was read from a Braille Bible, by someone, like Paul, approved by God to be entrusted with this gospel message in spite of the inability to see like you the reader. While we thank God for the life of this reader who did not allow despair of disability to incapacitate his faith, we must also be grateful to God for those He approved, and who followed the injunction to do for those who He loves; those He asks that we must care for. The good people of CODISA through whom the Lord has wrought many good deeds and brought to its doers His peace today represent these. 24. But as CODISA serves the disabled so must the disabled be of service. Let us all know that even from the dead there can be good – once that person did good deeds while alive. This is attested to by the miracle wrought by the dead body of Elisha whose dead bones brought another man back to life – as we read from 2 Kings 13:14 - 21. Therefore, if the dead bones of Elisha can bring good, so can the blind and the deaf, the lame and the dumb, and all in any manner of captivity to disability, if only by loving their neighbour and being a loving neighbour as well. 25. The disabled must see opportunity for resurrection in life, by giving that life no matter in what form to Christ. This leads to a baptism in Christ, which leads to sin dying in the soul, which brings resurrection anew in Christ. A person truly born again cannot but be a good neighbour, a man who makes a difference, a man’s whose good deeds attracts peace – that peace pronounced by Christ in John 20:19 – 21 upon His resurrection visit. This is not even as good as the peace pronounced upon the healing of disabled Naaman by Elisha who told him to go in peace in spite of Naaman’s shortcomings or reservations as recorded in 2 Kings 5:1 – 19. 26. To those who do good deeds, all you do is make true the Gospel as explained in the Epistles – as shown by Ephesians 2:10 which says you are: “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The good works are your good deeds, works of faith and acts of love. Let us fill the purse of the Church and its organs, and not say now that I have paid my 10%, my tithe is complete and my obligation to God met. As must be the true meaning of giving of tithes and offerings, these must not be measured by the blessings you will get, nor curses you will avoid, or in compliance with the Mosaic Law. Rather give as an act of worship, thanksgiving and faith. In this way, the storehouse of the Lord will be full and more than is needed will be available to meet the cause of the disabled and those in need. 27. What it takes to make a difference can only be summarised in part in a sermon. What it takes to attracts God’s peace by good deeds is indeed a summation of man’s life. But be that as it may, Christians are called to order, and you are given your charge: love your neighbour. Let us together bring to an end the displacing of Christianity, through the Church, in meeting the needs of those that are deprived the full benefits of life be that physical or spiritual. It is only because the Church has been in remission that secular and other states, through the UN, resolved by way of adoption of a charter that: “States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.” There is only one life here on earth, and before judgement that life must be effectively enjoyed as a child of love of Christ, and beneficiary of your love. 28. I press on, in rounding up, with the epistle of Paul reproduced in 1 Thessalonians 2:1 – 8. This is what is tells us: “You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Therefore, dear disciple of Christ, now is the time for that visit of yours to the homes of the disabled and this must be with results. Now is the time for you to be like a nursing mother to the infant of faith. Now is the time for you to share not just the gospel but your very lives with others in need. 29. Yours must not be words that increase futility as Ecclesiastes 6:11 says, but action that brings utility. Putting it more succinctly, and encapsulating the theme of this homily, I say quoting 1 John 3:18 - “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Therefore, I tell you: now is the time in the face of strong opposition from your siblings or spouse or partner to give, even if you are as poor as the widow with just a mite. Now is the time for all that springs from you to be from pure motives. Now is the time for you to stop trying to please people but only God, who tests the hearts of all men. Now is the time for you to be like Paul, be like a nursing mother caring for her children in caring for your neighbour. Now is the time for you to show your love, by your delight in sharing with your neighbour not only the gospel of God but your lives as well. Now is the time for you to give of your time. Now is the time to give money. Now is the time to give substance. Now is the time to be a living sacrifice. Now is the time to make a difference. Now is the time for you to join the rank of those approved by God to be entrusted with the aid of the poor, needy and disabled in bringing them the gospel. Now is the time to undertake good deeds that attract God’s peace. And so help you God. Amen. 30. Let us end with a prayerful composition of Edward Plumptre: “Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old, was strong to heal and save; it triumphed o’er disease and death, o’er darkness and the grave. To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb, the palsied and the lame, the leper with his tainted life, the sick with fevered frame.” Therefore, we pray, Lord of light, be near to bless you child. Thou great Deliverer, deliver us of sin, captivity, sickness and all disabilities. By this word, restore, quicken, soothe and bless your child so that from now and forever the hands that work and the eyes that see shall have grace to do good deeds and attract your peace. Amen.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:12:35 +0000