HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
HOMILY THEME: DIVINE POWER, A PRECIOUS GIFT OF HIS MERCY
BY: Rev Fr Joseph Nyarko Asare
(Acts 4:32-35/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24/1Jn 5:1-6/Jn 20:19-31)
By the merits of Jesus and the mercies of God, we are more powerful than we can imagine. God has made controllers of the universe with his son. We are over comers and conquerors. God has equipped us by blessing us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Eph 1:3).
Jesus, after his resurrection, his complete victory over sin and death, drew his followers to himself, relieved them of their fears, granted them his peace, power and ministry and gifted them with the needed energy to share his power and rule the world. He was so patient with the disciples that he will visit a second time within eight days, to strengthen the faith of the others and build that of Thomas. In a sense, Jesus did not leave anyone behind in his quest to empower his community.
With the first reading, we discover that the victory of Jesus had an all-encompassing liberation. It included social, economic, spiritual and physical freedom. In a territory of the Romans, people feared the Apostolic community; in the midst of economic challenges, there was no poor man among the believers; and social discomfort could not steal their joy. Indeed, like their master Jesus, the disciples ruled their world.
The second reading tells us that if we remain in the body of Christ and build our faith in him, we are conquerors and nothing can overcome us. Remaining in the body means loving God, i.e., obeying his commandments. This include accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour, getting baptised, remaining in the body of Christ and living in conformity to the will of God. Once we do this, no force, no power, no authority, no system, no spirit can enslave us.
PRAYER POINTS
~For deeper realisation of our power in God
~That we will be conscious of our position and capacity in the society in which we live
~For inner conviction in God's power and our absolute collaboration with his plans
(Rev Fr Joseph Nyarko Asare of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi)
