Friday, June 3, 2011

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A Acts 1:12-14/ Psalm 27/ 1 Peter 4:13-16/ John 17:1-11 THEME: The Hol

In a week’ time, we will be celebrating Pentecost and mother Church presents us with three beautiful readings for our reflection and edification. It would seem most appropriate on this Sunday before Pentecost to take the picture of the disciples waiting in the upper room for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is the result of Jesus’ departure to the Father and his ensuing glorification.
In the First reading, we are told that the disciples obeyed the Lord’s instruction by returning to Jerusalem. One significant point worthy of note is the fact that all who run away because of the persecution returned to Jerusalem, “ Peter, and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James” (Acts 1:13). St. Luke mentioned the names of all the disciples (except Judas Iscariot) to underscore the fact that even though they all abandoned the Lord during his passion, the grace of God brought them together again for the greatest event in history namely Pentecost.
It is significant to note that they were together. What were they doing? “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers” (Acts 1:14). It is obvious it was in the environment of prayer that the disciples experienced the Holy Spirit and not an atmosphere of hatred, division and all the things that has characterized our Christian communities today. Perhaps, the presence of the mother of Jesus may have been the catalyst to that unity.
How easy it would have been for someone to bring division into this beautiful assembly of humble people. How easy to criticize Peter for his cowardly denial of the saviour. Or perhaps Peter might have blamed John, because it was John who brought him into the high priest’s house (John 18:15-16). John might have as well reminded the others that he had faithfully stood by the Lord and had even been chosen by the lord to take care of his mother. But there was none of this. In fact, nobody was even arguing over who among them was the greatest.
It is not enough for Christians to have faith in the Lord; they must also have faith in one another. To these 12o people (Acts 1:15), the Lord had given the solemn responsibility of bearing witness to a lost world and none of them could do the job alone. They would experience severe persecution in the days ahead. The disciples, therefore, recognize that the task ahead of them was a herculean one and playing the blame gain was absolutely unnecessary. Rather, they recognized that it was time for praying together and standing together in the Lord.
The world was overwhelmed at the unity that now existed among a community that was once scattered as a result of the Paschal Mystery. They started persecuting them. The Second reading, therefore, is a reminder to all Christians that persecution awaits all who do the work of God. “ Beloved, do not be surprise at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’ sufferings, so that you may be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed” (1Peter 4:12-13).
St. Peter’ idea of rejoicing over suffering deserves reflection on our part. To begin with, there was a time when Peter had just the opposite view. When Jesus said one day that he had to go to Jerusalem to suffer greatly and be put to death, Peter judged suffering and death to be undesirable that he blurted out: “May you be spared, Master! God forbid that any such thing ever happen to you!” Later when a servant girl questioned him about him being an associate of Jesus, he blatantly denied it. On Good Friday, Peter was nowhere to be found when Jesus was arrested.
Something happened to Peter after the death and resurrection of Jesus that changed his outlook on life completely. The Holy Spirit with his gift of wisdom penetrated the mind of Peter and his brothers that they could clearly see the truth that Jesus had been telling them all along. “For the sake of the joy which lay before him, he endured the cross, heedless of its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus was happy to suffer because he knew what the result of his loving obedience to his Father would be his glorification.
The disciples were given to understand that like Jesus, every Christian is called to an obedient acceptance of suffering because it will lead us to the fullness of life as we share eventually in the resurrection of Christ.
Jesus in the Gospel reading popularly called “Jesus’ Priestly prayer” recognized that persecution awaits all his followers and so he consecrated them to his Father when he says, “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11). . This prayer is also for all those who have set themselves to genuinely do the work of God. Be assured of God's constant protection.
It is only when we are united that we can triumph even in the face of persecution. The Early Church knows nothing of isolated believers; wherever you find Christians, you find them in fellowship which stems from their union with Christ. This is because God’s people need each other. That is why Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and taught them to minister to one another. Later, the disciples would discover how weak they were and how much they needed each other’s encouragement.
In conclusion, let us ask the Holy Spirit to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference. Let me emphasise again that the Easter experience is not an individual affair; it is a community experience. Nobody owns the Holy Spirit; it is a gift to the community. Therefore, whatever gift you have is meant for the common good. May the various Novenas that will be organised in all our Parishes throughout the world renew our families, our Parish communities and the entire world at large.

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