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

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: A SWIFT AND RADICAL RESPONSE IS NEEDED WHEN WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: A SWIFT AND RADICAL RESPONSE IS NEEDED WHEN WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: READINGS: ACTS 2:36-41, PSALM 33, JOHN 20:11-18

Going through Acts 2:36-41, and seeing the overwhelming effect of the message of Christ crucified as preached by Peter; Jesus’ statement in John 12:32 comes to my mind. He had earlier on said: “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”. Today we see him taken to himself three thousand repentant and truly contrite souls; this for me shows clearly, the effect of the triumphant cross. When the people realized how wicked they had been to Christ by unjustly murdering him, they were broken at heart and did the needful; they repented.

Dearly beloved in Christ, when we hear the word of God preached to us how do we respond? Does it pierce our hearts leaving them broken, contrite, remorseful and truly repentant like the three thousand converts today? What really happens when the message of Christ crucified is preached to us; how do we react when we are reminded of how much pain we inflict on the heart of Jesus whenever we sin hence rebel against him? All of us, consciously or unconsciously crucify our Lord and saviour on daily basis and today is a call to take a proactive measure like the converts did. We may do well to ask; “What must we do”? And we must strive to save ourselves from this crooked generation by proving to be different from those who don’t know Christ – return to God confessing our sins and promising not to sin again.

This passage also tells us something about Jesus’ nature: ‘HE FORGIVES THE MOST GRIEVOUS OF OFFENCES’. It tells us that there’s only one thing involved whenever we return to him with sincerely contrite, repentant and crushed spirits – he readily forgives. How many are your sins dear brother; how bad are you? Are you a murderer, bugler, corruptionist, embezzler of public funds, wicked and callous in your dealings with one another? Just how red are your sins that the forgiving love of Christ won’t make them white as wool (Isa. 1:18). If he forgave his murderers and adversaries, why won’t he forgive you; only do the needful and leave the rest to him.

We pray today for a burning love for Christ, the kind that Mary had for her Lord and wouldn’t leave his tomb without finding him. We pray too for the spirit of true contrition; that we turn away from our sins, beg forgiveness from God and receive his Holy Spirit. Amen.

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