YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER (1)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: WHY DO YOU WONDER AT THIS?

BY: Fr. Ben Agbo

HOMILY: * Acts 3 : 11 – 26, Lk 24 : 35 – 48.

Faith is a practical confirmation of divine promise. It is the expectation that follows prayer ; the result of miracles that follow every human – divine encounter. Whenever faith departs, there is no more Christianity. What you may have is ‘a form religion where people deny the power their in’, 2 Tim 3 : 5. And this is what modern day Christianity is gradually turning into ; when the Blessed Sacrament is locked away from people’s access in the name of pandemic caution. In today’s 1st reading Peter heals the lame man and asks the people ; ‘Why do you wonder at this… as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?’ He reminded them that ‘faith in his ( Jesus’) name has made this man strong whom you see and know’. This is MIRACULOUS FAITH.

Let me also talk of another brand of faith – SACRAMENTAL FAITH mentioned in today’s gospel where no miracle is worked except that Jesus manifests himself at the breaking of bread. He ate before them and made them understand the scriptures better – BIBLICAL FAITH. If we don’t have the special assistance of the Holy Spirit, scriptural exegesis can turn so dry and mechanical that it becomes useless for the edification of the faith of the people of God. We are at such a critical time in world history when the faith of Christians ( clergy and laity) is being tested by a most terrific pandemic. But the Lord is still our healer. We pray God to help us not throw away our faith at the face of scientific realities and reasoning ( such as the infectious spread of the Corona Virus even through Christian gatherings). It must be FIDES ET RATIO ( Faith and reason) not RATIO SINE FIDES ( Reason without faith).

May God bless you today!