YEAR A: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: CHRIST WILL ALWAYS COME THROUGH

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: ACTS 4:1-12, PSALM 118, JOHN 21:1-14

✓•Help as many as you could
✓•Don’t be wicked and inconsiderate

Jesus reveals himself for the third time to his disciples today in a bid to keep their faith and hope in him alive; same faith they will need to withstand the soon to come persecutions orchestrated by his murderers. Peter and his friends seemingly lost all hope in the ‘slain Messiah’ and returned to their trades. Peter and his friends represent the Christians who are quick to sway whenever difficulties threaten and life’s events seem sour. They stand for the fair-weather Christians who are for God in the glory days, but stand apart from God when little persecutions come, prayers seem unanswered, hardship persist: salaries aren’t paid, children out of school, family goes hungry, little or no funds for medication and so on. These take refuge in the powers of the world; they visit seers, magic men/women, diviners etc. for fast results and solutions.

To this crop of Christians, Jesus persistently shows himself a saviour and loving master reassuring them of his constant support and providence. Like he did to Peter and his friends, so he does to us: he comes to us in our moments of despair through our parents, brothers, sisters, ministers of God and the likes. He desires we never lose sight of the fact that he came as Emmanuel, died for us (only to save us), rose as Emmanuel hence he’s always with us and will never abandon us. Despair and a sense of defeat will surely come our way, there are moments when life will seem vague; times when those things that we hoped in would fail us, then, our resort should be Jesus, he stands with us when all else leave.

Consequently, having believed that Jesus is perpetually with us and would never desert us, we should be bold enough to witness to his name come what may. Doing this may land us into trouble or peril, yet, like Peter and John, we should boldly advance his saving course, even as we proclaim his name to be the only medium of salvation (Acts 4:12). Our reward of course besides eternity will be an assurance of God’s protection and providence here on earth.

We may take care not to be like the rulers and elders, scribes, Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the high priestly family, who though knew the truth about the person of Christ and his mission; chose to antagonize him. Rather, may we take care to us the powers at our disposal to foster the message of Christ so that all of creation may believe in him.

DON’T TAKE UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF THE VULNERABLE AT THIS TIME. HELP FEED AND CATER FOR THE NEEDY AROUND YOU