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Homily for Sixth Sunday of Easter

READ: (Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17; 1 Pet 3: 15-18; Jn 14: 15-21)

REFLECT: Proclaim God’s word, defend the faith and follow the love commandment of God to be His children…

Dear friends, we are in the sixth Sunday of Easter. God wishes that we belong to him always and wants us to be his children. That’s why the father and child imagery in the bible occurs many a times, indicating that God is our Father and we are his children. The famous one is found in Hosea, where Israel is called as children and God as their father (Hos 1:1ff). The Father-child relationship continues or is sustained when we remain in and with God. The liturgy of the word invites us in what ways we can sustain and strengthen this bond as a Father and child. The readings lay before us ways to be God’s children and the disciple of Jesus by focusing on the word of God, the goodness of God and the greatness of God. Because the word of God has the power to change life, the goodness of God helps us defend the faith that we profess and the greatness of God is manifested in Jesus by the great act of love of God for humanity. Therefore, based on the liturgy of the word, I would like to share with you three points of reflections; 

1.     Proclaim God’s word:

We all know word in itself has a power to hurt or heal others. A word said in anger brings hurt and a word uttered in kindness and compassion brings comfort and healing. And so it is important that we are aware of what we utter. Uttering anything we like to the other at times can bring about a disaster and turmoil in relationships. That’s why sometimes people even remain silent, so that the other is not hurt or feel disappointed the way we behaved or reacted. If words that we human beings utter can be dual in nature as good and bad, what about God’s word? God’s word has of an extra-ordinary power and it always brings good. Even if God’s word is used for a condemnation, it is for the sake of justice to bring about and not to cause evil to spring up.

That’s what we hear in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The power of God’s word is proclaimed by Philip to the city of Samaria, people were cleansed from evil spirits, they were healed of sicknesses and ultimate they were baptized in the name of the Lord and received the Holy Spirit by Peter and John. It is because of the power of God’s word that changed the nature of the people from sickness to good health, from being human persons to an identity as Christians and followers of Christ by the power and the effect of the proclamation of the word of God. All the more, the proclamation of God’s word in the first reading ends with a note of joy and the harvest plentiful, because they proclaimed God’s word and not their own word or mission. So every proclamation becomes a mighty event or plentiful harvest, provided we proclaim God’s word or proclaim what God wants us.

Today what we are called to do as Christians is to proclaim God’s word, because God’s word has a power to effect good change in others. All of us by virtue of our Baptism we are sealed to proclaim God’s word. Therefore, every Christian is duty bound to become part of the proclamation of God’s word as lay faithful, priests and religious. The apostles and disciples were able to proclaim God’s word powerfully, heal and raise up people miraculously because they themselves were empowered by God’s word. So the one who wants to empower others must empower oneself by the word of God, believe in it, preach near and far, then the effect will be large and the fruit would bear in plenty.

Very beautifully Pope Francis exhorts us saying, “Place your life under the Word of God. All of us, even the pastors of the church, are under the authority of the Word of God. Not under our own tastes, tendencies and preferences. The word of God molds us, converts us and calls us to be united in the one church of Christ, so the faithful must ask themselves, where does my life find direction?” Yes, let us empower ourselves with the word of God first and then reach out to those far away or near. Because we all of us according to the state life are under the authority of God’s word, God’s word has the power to empower oneself and others. So let us allow the word of God work through us as the apostles allowed the word of God work through them to the people of Samaria.

2.     Defend the Faith by good:

As Christians and followers of Christ we are obliged to defend the faith that we profess in God. Because defenseless faith becomes a land without any fence, making room for anyone to enter and do whatever one wishes. But our defense mechanisms or measures to faith should be an offensive act to others, because faith does not offend others rather offers freedom and respect to each one’s dignity and to the faith that one professes.

That’s what the Second reading from First letter of Peter speaks of defending everything but in the name of the Lord Jesus. St. Peter invites us not to rebuke them harshly or reproach others while defending the faith but do it in all gentleness. It is better to suffer for doing good than doing evil. Doing good to others who abuse us for our faith has a witnessing value. The witness value becomes a more powerful medium to bring people closer to God. That’s what St. Peter would say doing good to others shall be our response to those who insult or abuse us, because they would be put to shame for refusal to accept the good or go against the truth. Yes, ultimately it is truth that triumphs and the good that wins us all. Therefore, our good and true faith will set us free, although we might suffer while we defend our faith for good with gentleness.

Today there have been many false allegations or accusations against us Christians and Catholics with regard to ministry that we do or the faith that we profess. We need to be gentle in handling them and use methods of non-violence and non-abuse to win over the people for God. I don’t mean to say that we have to ignore or become completely silent of the things that really matter, but the right way of handling that false accusation against us would make us worthy witnesses of Christ in the world. When we rely on God for such unavoidable circumstances, unfair judgments and false accusations, God will definitely give us way out to overcome them, because it is for the faith that we profess in God we are taken into task. Perhaps God might use our good behaviors in the phase of adversities and false accusations to bring people for God, making them realize the faults and flaws of life.

So in the process of defending faith, let us not be argumentative or harsh, let us not abuse or offend anyone rather inspire them with gentle words and good deeds. We all know it’s not a very easy affair, but we can always make efforts to be so. The good and the positive vibes have a long-lasting effect and impact than the bad and abusive words. Certainly, suffering is painful but when we suffer for Good and when we endure it for the sake of the faith that we profess in Christ, God grants us strength to put up with the hardships we go through, gives us blessings to overcome them.  The good act has more advantageous than the bad. Although the good suffers, ultimately the good wins, because God supports the good and not the wicked. In the phase of defending faith, working for God’s glory, if we undergo any hardships or difficulties, it is God who would come to our rescue and assistance.

That’s why Jesus very clearly tells us, “On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. For, it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you,” (Matt 10: 18-20). So Let us defend faith gently, because faith is a gift that is freely bestowed on us and not something that is forced upon. Let us defend the faith that we profess in Christ and be assured of God’s grip on us through the Holy Spirit. 

3.     Follow God’s commandments:

Following a command or a condition is not a force but a necessary requirement to complete a task or an assignment. When a condition or a command is forced upon, it just becomes a burden. But when a command or condition is done and practiced with love, it becomes a delight or a delicious stuff that we would always cherish.  Just as our life is assigned with a task by God to complete it and to complete it we need certain commands and conditions to follow. So in order that our life be completely assigned and directed to God, we need to follow the commandments and conditions of God. Perhaps, bible is immersed with varied commandments from God for better life but the most significant of all commandments is ‘love.’

That’s what the Gospel reading manifests to us to keep the commandments of Jesus. Jesus promises that the one who keeps his commandments will be assisted by the helper Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, who is with us and in us. Jesus assures us that he won’t let us be orphans because although he might leave us now, Jesus would continue to be with us in and through the works and presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the manifestation of our love for God is seen in following the commandments of Jesus. As a consequence the love of God the Father and the Son Jesus would flow in abundance to each one of us.

The commandment that Jesus speaks here can be traced a little ahead in the Gospel of John, where Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment: love one another! Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,” (Jn 13: 34-35). Yes, love is the greatest of all commandments that Jesus gives. When we obey Jesus’ command to love one another as Jesus loved us, we will love God and God would love us; when God loves us we will never feel that we are abandoned or lonely, because God’s love envelops us completely that we become closely and intimately united with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

Today, what makes us feel lonely, abandoned, sad, depressed is our failure to follow the commandments of love that Jesus laid before us in word by his teaching and in deed by the self-emptying love on the cross. Surely, we can say that the love of Jesus is the fullness of all love and true love for us. Jesus does not ask us to love others with great deeds of miracles or wonders; God does not demand us to lay down one’s life as Jesus did. God only wishes that we follow the commandment of love that Jesus taught us.  Jesus walked with people like an ordinary human person without seeking for power and honor, Jesus talked to people in gentleness, patience, kindness and love, Jesus healed and brought wellness of life and Jesus worked with people manifesting his affinity with God, glorifying God and doing what pleased in the sight of God.  So let us follow the commandment of love given by Jesus, I am sure that true love in us will make the hate vanish and hurt forgiven from heart.

As Pope Francis shares what Jesus told his disciples before leaving this world and returning to the Father, he makes a meaningful point to note. Jesus told us what it means to be a Christian: “Even as I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:34). This is the legacy that Christ left to us, the ultimate criterion for discerning whether or not we are truly his disciples. It is the commandment of love.” Yes, this is our identity. The practice of the commandment of love would prove we are his Disciples of Christ. Let us fall in love with God, manifest the same with one another, so that others would know our God is love, our God loves us and we are the manifestation of God’s love on earth.

RESPOND:

Do we proclaim God’s word and God’s mission or do we impose our ideas and ideals in the mission of God?

Do we defend the faith by act of gentleness to bear witness or defend faith by arrogance as counter witness?

Do we follow God’s commandment of love or our commandments according to our whims and fancies?

Let us proclaim God’s word, defend the faith by gentleness and follow the commandment of love to be God’s children and disciples of Jesus. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968