HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF 7TH WEEK OF EASTER.
THEME: Father, keep those you have given me true to your name.
BY: Rev Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 20:28-38
Psalm 67:29-30,33-36
John 17:11-19
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Good morning dear brethrens, today we celebrate the Wednesday of the 7th Week of the Easter Period, liturgical calendar Year A.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In today’s first reading, Saint Paul also shows a keen awareness of this reality. Speaking to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, he says to them, ‘I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock’. Jesus once used a similar image of wolves approaching the flock, with the hireling running away as soon as he sees the wolf coming but the good shepherd staying put to watch over the flock. Jesus knew that our faith would be put to the test.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF 7TH WEEK OF EASTER.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus prays for his disciples on the night before he died. This prayer really transcends that particular moment in time. It is also the prayer of the risen Lord for his disciples today, for all of us believers. What is Jesus’ prayer on our behalf? In the words of the gospel reading, he prays that we may be true to God’s name and that God would protect us from the evil one. This prayer of Jesus for us reflects one of the petitions in the prayer that Jesus asked us to prayer for ourselves, the prayer that has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. In that prayer we pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil’.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear brothers and sisters, this prayer of Jesus for us reflects one of the petitions in the prayer that Jesus asked us to prayer for ourselves, the prayer that has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. In that prayer we pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil’. This must be a prayer that is very close to the heart of Jesus if he prays it for us and asks us to pray it for ourselves, the prayer that we be delivered from, protected from, the evil one, the prayer that we remain true or faithful to God’s name, to who God is and what God desires for us. Jesus prays this prayer in the knowledge that our faithfulness will be put to the test by what the gospel reading calls the ‘world’. The gospel reading this morning assures us that in such testing times the Lord is praying for us, and his prayer combined with our own prayer will ultimately keep us faithful to him and to his Father.
Your Word is indeed my Strength Oh Lord our God. Good Morning dear brothers and sisters. Have a Blessed Wednesday.
Rev Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
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