The study of History is of great importance to growth and development. So that the knowledge of the past helps with the success of today and even tomorrow. Knowledge of history “supposedly” helps one avoid the mistakes of the past. The Sacred Scripture is not a “Historical Book.” However, it contains facts of the past, stories of the development of the faith. In teaching faith, there are factual stories of the past, which ought to have the same effect and purpose like the study of History. It is evident in the world today that historical knowledge scarcely serves a preventive and progressive purpose, because history repeats itself repeatedly.
With the exploits of World War I and World War II, one would ordinarily expect that countries of the world would work at their very best to nip leading events in the bud before they get out of hand. With the sour experience of the Nigerian Civil War, one would ordinarily expect that the Nigerian government and society would actively work to prevent a reoccurrence. This accounts for the gross disregard of history and its purposes. Hence, an explanation of the global retrogression. In our religious lives, Sacred Scripture, as an account of the history of salvation, serves the purpose of the history books to the secular society.
The liturgy of today reminds us that as the Word of God, Sacred Scripture is also a “Book of Warnings.” It is replete with warnings against all kinds of evil, sin, wrong doing; by commission or omission, that can prevent us from true religion and sharing in the life of heaven. When historical lessons are shared, there are different reactions. Some analyze and submit that the victims were not smart enough, then design new ways to evade the consequence. Some just listen and judge every character, pointing out the flaws of each, without learning anything for themselves – they do not apply the stories to themselves. Then, there are those who apply the stories to themselves and take the lessons therein. The liturgy warns us against the first two categories of reactions.
We should not approach the warnings of Scripture with an attitude to exonerate ourselves; “Thank God, I’m not like that o!” “What I did is not that bad na!!” We should not think that God judges like an examiner with a marking guide that is known to the students and can be contested. The ways and thoughts of God remain far from ours; who can search them? We should not think that we are better than anybody who suffers any form of calamity. Or that we bear more grace or anointing than another because we are more fortunate or spared or favoured.
Our attitude should rather be self reflective. We should understand that there is always punishment for sin, irrespective of the degree or intensity we attach to it. The fact that we still have life should tell us that God gives us chances to heed his many warnings in history and repent, else the repercussion awaits. As in the parable in the gospel, we ought to bear fruits. When we do not, we are cut down “next year” – a time we do not know. And while we are alive, Christ continually digs about us opportunities of faith and manures us with his grace and word, that we may bear fruit. We are reminded once again that God is the same forever, even in his compassion and graciousness.
He is ever ready to forgive our sins, hear our cry and deliver us like he did to Israel through Moses. So, rather than gloat in self righteousness that bears no fruit, let us pay conscious attention to the warnings of Scripture; turn away from every desire of evil to good without grumbling, lest the wrath of the Lord fall on us. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, not without his justice.
Hence, as St. Paul says in the second reading, let us take heed, lest we fall, we fall into evil, sin, vice and at the end, our damnation. God sent Moses to deliver the Israelites from their affliction in Egypt. In these days, he still sends Moses in his priests to deliver the people of this time from the affliction of our sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We have been warned! Let us repent!! Please go for confession!!! God bless you.
• Rev. Fr. Gregory Onaji, Associate Parish Priest, St. Matthew Catholic Church, Amukoko, Lagos.
