Homily for the Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year A

The Mission Of Every Catholic Christian 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year A

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Throughout this Easter, the first readings have been drawn from the Acts of the Apostles. It is believed that St. Luke authored two-volume works; the first volume is the Gospel of Luke, the second volume is the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts commences with the promise of the Holy Spirit. In one of his post-Resurrection appearances, Jesus instructs his disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit. In our Gospel for today (John 14:15-21), the Holy Spirit is described as the “Parakletos,” which means “one who pleads another’s cause before a judge,” that is a prosecuting attorney. But who is the Holy Spirit? He is the Love of the Father and the Son; he is the Love that connects the Father and the Son together. Jesus promised that the love between him and the Father will descend upon them, and empower them for their work. What is that work? The gradual act of making Jesus King. The Acts of the Apostles is the story of how Jesus gradually becomes King; it is the story of how his power and influence spread all over the world through the acts of his Apostles. Luke says these acts were made possible by the Holy Spirit which descended upon the Church. From a distant reading of the Gospels, it is clear that the Spirit of Jesus and his Father cannot be the spirit of violence and hatred. The kings of the world, from the ancient times to the present day, govern the world through hatred, violence, oppression; what St. Augustine called “libido dominandi” (lust to dominate). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love, but like an army, it is also the Spirit eager to engage the powers of the world. This is why the Holy Spirit is called the Parakletos, a prosecuting attorney willing to take on the wickedness of the world the way a prosecuting attorney might through the power of the mind and of speech. 

On Pentecost Day, when the Spirit fell on the Apostles, it appeared as tongues of fire. On that day, the Spirit sent the Apostles into the streets of Jerusalem speaking all the languages of the world. This is a signal of a Church marching and fighting not with the weapons of the world, but with a more powerful weapon— a Spirit filled speech. We heard that their early work recorded a huge success: three thousand converts were added to their number on that first day. But soon enough, they met serious opposition. Fierce persecution broke out in Jerusalem. The political and religious establishments went all in to stop them. The Apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (an assembly or council) and warned not to speak of the Name. They were also beaten. After a period of time, Peter was imprisoned. Stephen was stoned to death; James was beheaded. Some decades later, Peter and Paul were martyred, crucified upside down. The story of these Christian warriors is still our story today. It is still the story of the Church of Jesus Christ to this present day. 

The saying that “God works in mysterious ways” is always true. Check this out! When fierce attack, lynching, imprisonment, death by stoning broke out against the Apostles and disciples, many of them were forced to flee from Jerusalem. And wherever towns they settled, they also spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Our first reading (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17) says that prompted by the persecution “Philip (one of the Greek-speaking deacons) went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.” As he preached, the crowd listened to him with great attention and accepted the faith. Why did the Samaritan people pay great attention to Philip? Why did they accept the Christian faith? Because of the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of the spoken word of Philip. Philip was a great preacher. He captivated his audience and directed them to Jesus. In the history of evangelization, this is what always happens. When St. Paul preached, there were demonstrations of power in the Spirit. When he came into a town, there was great preaching and something more— lots of miracles too. So, as Philip powerfully preached, great demonstrations of power were happening in real time. In his ministry in Samaria, Philip was being used to overcome the dark powers of this world. He was carrying on the work inaugurated by Jesus Christ and thereby making Jesus sovereign. Christians are always at war, as Paul says. Our battle is not flesh and blood. We battle against principalities and power.

In conclusion, we are told that two of the great pillars of the faith, Peter and John, upon hearing the exploits of Philip in Samaria, traveled to Samaria to facilitate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the new converts. It is like the visitation of a bishop today at a Catholic parish who presides over the descent of the Holy Spirit (confirmation) on those who have been baptized. Philip has preached and baptized and now Peter and John are called in to preside over the descent of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, we hold that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given at baptism but they are stirred up and brought to life at confirmation. So, what we see in our second reading is imitated in our Church today. After baptism, someday later, confirmation follows. What are these gifts of the Spirit? Some can be spectacular like speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy (these things are real), and some can be ordinary too—administration, kindness, generosity, teaching (being a catechist). These gifts exist for the sake of equipping the warriors. The Spirit first fell on the Apostles and then to the wider Church. But the purpose is always the same— to extend and spread the reign and authority of our Lord Jesus. Every baptized Catholic has received some gifts of the Spirit and is therefore called to fight. As we embark on this fight, our confidence is in Jesus’ promise that the gate of hell will not prevail against us, his Church. Declaring the kingship of Jesus and extending his reign remains our mission just as it was for Philip centuries ago. 

God bless you!