“At that time: Behold, a mute demoniac was brought to Jesus. And when the demon has been cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds marvelled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 9th July 2024 – MATTHEW 9:32-38.
So, in some African countries, especially in Nigeria as a case study, poverty and hunger are weaponized and used by some politicians as well some of those seeking political or appointive office against the people for their own selfish interests.
Since, when a majority of the masses remain poor and impoverished they become easy pawns for these type of politicians to manipulate for their inimical purposes.
Now, when someone with a good heart returns to their community to provide some sort of succour to his indigent kith and kin, such politicians may take offense.
Their vexation will be that their supposed captives are about to be liberated from what gives him and his family advantage over them.
In Jesus’ time, those who were like those politicians in order to distract him accused him of using the king of demons to perform his miracles.
Those kind of people have now adjusted their tactics.
Using their massive wealth of money and connections, they usually would devolve several antics and set plenty land mines for this phantropist to fall.
While some of their paid urchins dressed up in over-starched guinea brocade are constantly singing your praise and automatically allocating some political office to you, others will be busy throwing tantrums and making unverified claims that one’s supposed generosity is just for the purpose of running for a political office.
Just as if that is not enough, elders whom one respects so much would be infiltrated and approached, as well as some supposed well meaning individuals in that community.
These people representing supposed different fora in that community would at different intervals approach one with similar message.
The message is short and simple, “You are the one that this community has been waiting for to deliver us from this backwardness . . . . . . . . . .”
My dear friend, that’ a trap.
I beg us with all that we hold sacred, any of us who is already helping their community or anyone who is so desirous of doing so shouldn’t fall for such cheap blackmail when so approached.
Unless, of course that was our main aim in the first place and we only used our supposed charity and philanthropism as a guise.
This is not saying one with genuine intentions shouldn’t run for an elective political office. By all means, we should do that when compelled by our inner calling. That, however must be separated from charity works.
My dear friend, I am begging, we mustn’t yield to such cheap blackmail. Else, the evil people will demystify us, then they will sit back together with their cohorts and have a throaty laugh at us.
Like Jesus Christ, we must ignore all such calls and face our just cause. We should only do as our might permits at a time. It is God alone that multiplies.
Have fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_AUGUSTINE_ZHAO_RUNG! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo