YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER (2)
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTERIntention for the Day: Pray that God will raise men and women of faith who w
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER
Intention for the Day: Pray that God will raise men and women of faith who will witness and proclaim their convictions in the gospel. Amen.
BY: Fr. Cyril Akindele Osadare
HOMILY: Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Readings: Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36
It’s being said that if one doesn't stand for something, he will fall for everything. Indeed, there is a need to be convinced about something and ready to follow it as well as being known for that thing. Yoruba will say “ogun to ba da ni l’ou, a fi n gba ori ni”. The deity that one is sure of, we can hit our head with it. This indicates that if we are sure of something, then we are ready to talk about it and stand by it.
This is the message of our readings today. In the first reading, we have Peter and John telling the elders that what they know and witness and are convinced of is what they will do. They won’t do otherwise or be silent. They are ready to obey God than any human authority. That’s the confessional statement of John the Baptist that Jesus who came from above is the one they are witnessing to and his witness is real and true.
My dear friends, one of the signs of an easter person who is born again is conviction of witness. We need to be convinced of what we know and we have believed in and stand by it irrespective of the situation opposition. If those worshippers of these deities are bold to worship their ogun and sango, what about us Christians who stand for Christ. Let us be more emboldened and courageous to send for God and witness to him in courage and truth. Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Athanasius who was placed in exile five times for his teachings in defense of the Nicene faith and against heresies that diminished the significance of the Trinity.
He just didn’t give up. I am much encouraged by the persistent faith of St. Athanasius and others like him who built for us our strong faith traditions through their teaching and witness to the truths of the Gospel. If not for these people, the Christian might have been extincted with the way we practice it in timidity and fear today.
May the Lord give us the grace to stand by the truth we believe in everyday. Amen.
