YEAR A: HOMILY THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

YEAR A: HOMILY THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: THE ADVENT OF THE PARACLETE

BY: Fr. Emmanuel Nwokeji

HOMILY: Gospel Jon.14:15-21

Gradually, we are moving towards the Advent of the Paraclete.
Jesus promises us another Paraclete who will be with us, lead and guide us to the truth, only if we love Him by keeping His commandments.

The Paraclete is “one called in to help in time of trouble or need”. In the bringing out the meaning of the Paraclete, the choice of word is very important to aid a better understanding. The choice of any English equivalent for Paraclete may be dictated by the nature of the occasion and general feeling of the situation. Thus, the scenario of today’s Gospel could be uncertain sorrow. Jesus address or announcement of His departure led the disciples into panic of unknown incidence to their lives on earth. Jesus was everything to them. Their all in all, their teacher, defender, advocate, helper, comforter etc. Jesus going did not mean that God would forsake them. He went on consoling them with the promise of another Paraclete. Reviewing the situation of the disciples with Jesus their master, the best rendering for Paraclete will be comforter. In Jon. 2:1 the Paraclete occurs as advocate. “Helper” could be more embracing but is too indefinite.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: YEAR A: HOMILY THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Another comforter implies that Jesus is our comforter. He was sent to the world by the Father as comforter to help the fallen humanity in time of trouble (Deformation). Jesus coming to an end to the work of His reformation, promises another comforter who will be to them all that He had been and more. Who will bring the same sense of God’s nearness and presence. Who will be His historical successor, but not in the sense that He (Christ) is no longer acting in His church. Who will be substitute for physical presence of Christ in order to energize His spiritual presence.

The action of the comforter has two senses. Firstly, the one who comfort us in our sorrow, providing consolation and affording relief. Secondly, one who comes as fortifier, who enables some dispirited creature to be brave. The comforter in this sense will lift men above fear, reinforces them and give them victory in battle.

The advent of the comforter is conditional. If you love me, you will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father to give you another comforter. Therefore the comforter is a gift God will give to those who obey Him. If we are in need of the comforter with all His packages, we must keep and fellow all the teachings of Jesus Christ without neglecting an iota of it.

God cannot bless us when we are living in disobedience to His Commands. Surrender absolutely to God’s will, His blessing and comfort will locate you.

I have a pen in my pocket, and that pen is absolutely surrendered to the one work of writing. The pen must be surrendered absolutely to my hand if I am to write properly with it. If another holds it partly, I cannot write properly.

The comforter will remain with us. No matter how long the lockdown goes, the comforter is with us. Even if all churches are lockdown, the comforter is there.
As we love God at all times, may His comforter be there for us.

Happy 6th Sunday of Easter!

FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE>>>>>>>