HOMILY: 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A [3RD MAY 2026] FATHERS DAY

Acts 6:1-7
Ps. 33
1 Peter 2:4-9
John 14:1-12

As Christians, we are all mandated to establish God’s kingdom here on earth; making everybody who believes in Jesus Christ a member of God’s household. The call to establish God’s kingdom here on earth is a call to service; hence, the first reading of today is a fitting passage to support the idea and the message of service, which the gospel itself carries.

The first reading of today is about the first deacons. They were ordained by the overburdened Apostles who needed their help in caring for and providing services for the growing number of Christians in their communities (Acts 6:1-7). The ministry of deacons as presented in the first reading emphasizes our own communal roles in liturgy, witnessing and service to others. The deacon brings the needs of the marginalized, the poor, the imprisoned, the sick and disabled to the awareness of the priest. He sees to it that they are not forgotten or excluded from the liturgical, pastoral and communal life of the parish.

For us today, though not deacons, yet called to the service of others, Jesus is saying to us “There are many rooms in my father’s house”-rooms for service! In the liturgical life of your church (parish, as the case may be) there are many rooms for service. Are you a Lector, Church Warden, a member of the Choir, an Altar Server? Do you actively participate in the life of any of the lay apostolate groups? – C.M.O.N, C.W.O.N or C.Y.O.N. as the case may be, or in any of the pious societies?

If there are many rooms for service, why then should any of us be idle? Before we can enter into God’s eternal kingdom, we must first participate actively in building his kingdom here on earth. The kingdom of God is right here! (cf. John 17:21) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the father” (John 14:12). From this we see that being a member of God’s house is a participation in the ministry of Jesus; the ministry of service, like the deacons.

And grater works we are called to do -the work of witnessing to what we all are called to, namely heeding God’s call for us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and shelter the homeless. We can see Jesus is very right to tell us there are many rooms in his father’s house -many rooms for service indeed. And each time we fail or refuse to do any of these, we are invariably refusing to occupy the room Christ allots us.

And he tells us he’s the way to the father. To come through Christ is to come through the way of self-giving, ‘other-serving’ and not ‘self-serving’. Christ himself followed this path by giving his life for us.

The final words you will hear and the conclusion in this Mass will be: “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” You came here to Mass to receive in order that you might give. What we receive here we are called to give in our daily lives.

Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. (Jn. 14:1) says Jesus. In a similar way, the second reading asks us to “come to the Lord, to that living stone…” (1st Peter 2:4). Do not let us be afraid of the task we’re called to as Christians. We only need to make ourselves available and God Himself would make us capable. Even Jesus remarks “but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (Jn. 14:10).

During this coming week therefore, do something. Pick out something that needs to be done and then do it. How can the Lord be glorified if you do nothing? The worst thing you can do is to do nothing.

“As we celebrate Fathers Day today, this message of ‘many rooms’ takes on a special significance for the men among us. In the eyes of God, a father is the first ‘deacon’ of the domestic church—the home.

To our fathers: your ‘room for service’ begins at home, in the quiet sacrifices you make for your children’s future, and in the spiritual leadership you provide for your family. Just as the deacons were called to ensure no one was forgotten, a father is called to ensure that no one in his home feels excluded from God’s love. Being a father is not a title of power, but a mandate of service. When you guide your children with patience or support your spouse with self-giving love, you are occupying the very ‘room’ Christ has prepared for you.”

Let us remember that the ‘greater works’ Jesus mentions are often found in the steady, faithful presence of a father. Do not let your hearts be troubled by the weight of your responsibilities. You are called to be ‘living stones’ (1 Peter 2:4) upon which your families are built.

As you go forth today, remember that the most profound way you glorify the Lord is by being ‘the way’ through which your children see the Fatherhood of God. Your service to your family is your liturgy; your sacrifice is your witness. We pray that God makes you capable of the high calling to which He has invited you.”

*Rev Fr Stephen ‘Dayo Osinkoya*

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