Homily For Monday Fifth Week of Easter Year A, 8th May, 2023

Readings: Acts. 14:5-18; Ps.114; John 14:21-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHEN YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, LET THE HOLY SPIRI TEACH YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

As the time for Jesus to accomplish his mission drew near, he had taught his disciples a lot of things which they had not yet fully understood and there are more to teach them. So in our Gospel passage today, as he continues to teach the disciples about knowing and observing the commandments as a sign of love of him and his Father, one of his disciples who could not understand this teaching said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about?

 

He continues, do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world? And Jesus replied ‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him'. But as this becomes more difficult for them to comprehend, Jesus said to them: ‘the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.’

 

Here Jesus who has been the teacher of his disciples promised them the indwelling of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will take up the task to inspire them and deepen their understanding of the words and actions of Jesus. However, Jesus emphasized that the condition for obtaining all that he has promised is the love expressed in our faith in the Father through him.

 

Thus today, we are called to renew our faith and devotion to God, to renew our love and focus once again on Him with all our hearts, so as to be faithful in all things and at all times. Let us be inspired by the courage and faith of the Apostles, and strive to dedicate ourselves ever more to God. Just like Paul and Barnabas in our first reading, who had the right focus and emphasis in their minds and hearts with unwavering faith and commitment to God as they resisted the temptation of being treated like gods.

 

Hence, they shouted at the people who wanted to offer sacrifice to them, they said to them: ‘Friends, what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth'. Here we see how they faithfully kept the commandments of God, and remained faithful to Him, as Jesus mentioned in our Gospel passage today.

 

Dear friends, let us resist the temptations of pride, greed, selfishness and corruption present in this world. As we ascend the lather of success,  we must not let pride cut our joy short by taking the honour that is not ours. We must learn like  Paul and Barnabas to be humble and avoid to take the honour that is meant for God. And when we do not Understand, let the Holy Spirit teach you all you need to know.

 

We must do our very best to follow Jesus with all our hearts and with all our strength, putting him at the very center of our existence and lives, knowing that the holy Spirit, the Advocate will surely teach and reveals to us the deep mysteries of our faith. He will also, help us to over come the temptations of this world and lead to God our loving Father.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty ever-living God, there are lots of things we need to know and understand about the faith we have found in you, grant we pray that the Holy Spirit may guide our ways, teach us what we need to know and what to do, how to do it, when to do it and grace do it properly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a new week, may the Holy Spirit guide and bless all your effort.