“When we are attached to looking holy, rather to being holy, our vision is clouded, and we mistake our own selfish preferences for God’s guidance,” he said.
Fr Sosa delivered the homily on October 13 at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Accra during his visit to the North-West Africa Province of the Society of Jesus.
Reflecting on the day’s biblical readings, the Jesuit leader challenged Christians who focus on religious rituals and appearances while neglecting their inner spiritual lives.
“It is easy to polish our public image, maintaining proper routine, polite speech, and visible religiosity while harbouring resentment, self-visions, or pride within,” he said.
Drawing on the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola, Fr Sosa emphasised the importance of inner freedom and detachment from ego, control, approval and the desire for recognition.
“Spiritual freedom is not the liberty to do whatever we want, but the grace of an open heart that says, Lord, I am free and ready to choose whatever most leads to your praise and service,” he said.
He stressed that genuine faith must be expressed through charity, self-giving and service to others.
“The faith without charity, the faith without giving your life, the faith without works, apostolic works, is not real,” he said.
Fr Sosa also encouraged Catholics to examine the motives behind their religious practices, including attending Mass and daily prayer, and consider whether these are driven by love or merely by habit, obligation or the desire to appear holy.
“The ultimate test of our faith is not how perfectly we keep the appearances, but how genuinely our disposition manifests in mercy, justice, and compassion toward those around us,” he said.
He concluded by inviting the faithful to seek the grace of true spiritual freedom so that their lives may reflect a deeper commitment to God and neighbour.
Discussion about this post