HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF 6TH WEEK OF EASTER.
THEME: Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
BY: FR. DEOTACIOUS CHIKONTWE SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 18:23-28
Psalm 46:2-3,8-10
John 16:23-28
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Today we celebrate Saturday of the 6th week of Easter, liturgical calendar year.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
There is another striking portrayal in the first reading of how the members of the early church supported one another. We are told that Paul continued his journey through the Galatian countryside and then through Phrygia, encouraging all the followers. Then when a young Jewish Christian named Apollo arrived in the city of Ephesus from the city of Alexandria, the married couple, Aquila and Priscilla, gave him further instruction in the faith. This was the same couple that had offered Paul accommodation in Corinth. Then when Apollos wanted to cross over from the church in Ephesus to the church in Corinth, the members of the church in Ephesus wrote a letter to the church in Corinth asking believers there to welcome Apollos. Then when Apollos arrived in Corinth he helped the believers there considerably by God’s grace.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF 6TH WEEK OF EASTER.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In this morning’s gospel Jesus speaks as one who is leaving this world and going to the Father. As he does so, Jesus encourages his disciples to ask for whatever they need and their prayer will be heard. They are to ask in his name, in other words, they are to ask in a way that is in keeping with his will for them. If they prayer in that way, Jesus assures them that their prayer will be heard and their joy will be complete.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear friends in Christ, Jesus encourages us all to ask him for whatever we need to live in a way that is in keeping with his desire for our lives. That can often be a struggle and sometimes we can be tempted to give up the struggle. It is then that we need to pray, to ask the Lord for the help that he alone can give us, the help that enables us to do his work, and, indeed, as he says, to do even greater works than he has done. Jesus almost seems to rebuke the disciples when he says, ‘until now you have not asked for anything in my name’. He encourages us to ask, to live our lives as his followers not on our resources but in union with him, recognizing our dependence on him.
The Lord be with You!
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