7TH SUNDAY HOMILY IN THE EASTER — YEAR C
7TH SUNDAY HOMILY IN THE EASTER — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: THE MEDIATOR, JESUS CHRIST
BY: Fr Peter Gabriel Okon
Acts 1:1-11, Ps: 46; Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53
Today, the 7th Sunday of Easter, few days after the Ascension of the Lord, the readings of the Liturgy raises our gaze to the High Priestly ministry and service of Jesus Christ, after having completed His earthly Priestly role with the Ascension. After Ascension, our Lord has not stopped working, He has not gone to rest as with one over-laboured and exhausted, but continues His mediating role by the right hand of God the Father.
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Today’s Gospel continues the farewell discourse from last Sunday and highlights prominently the aspect of the High Priestly office of Jesus Christ – His mediating role before the Father. “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). The greatest sign of our followership of Jesus is seen in our unity of purpose. He worked for this while on earth and from heaven prays for us to remain one as they (the Triune God) are one. We cannot be united within ourselves, if we are not first connected or in union with Christ in thoughts, words and actions.
In the first reading, the first Christian martyr, Stephen was privileged, guided by the Holy Spirit to see the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). This posture of Jesus standing shows again that He continues even in His heavenly Glory to mediate for us before God the Father. This should be both encouraging and re-assuring that we are eternally in the heart of Jesus Christ, for He desires, that where He is, we too may be there. Like Stephen, we need the Holy Spirit to inspire and aid us to remain connected to Christ, so as to live out the unity He so desired and prayed for. Stephen understood that a true disciple must follow in the footsteps of the master, he (Stephen) at the last moment of his life, prayed for his executioners, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”(Acts 7:60). Same, as Jesus did from the Cross, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing (Luke 23:34). May we not be held back from union with Christ as a result of unforgiveness.
Beloved in Christ, the truth of our faith tells us that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between us and the Father, and today He prays for us, to remain one with Him and with one another. In the Revelation of John, our second reading, we see where this unity leads us, …the right to life eternal in the city of God. Let us therefore, rejoice that Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour continues to pray for us and like Stephen allow the Holy Spirit to guide and mold us into instruments of love, peace and unity in the Church and world.
May the Holy Spirit, the promised advocate, purify our thoughts, words and help us live in unity and harmony through Christ our Lord Amen.
Do have a blessed Sunday and a happy new month.
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