Homily for the Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year A

Wherever You Go, Go with Your Christianity

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.

On Pentecost Day, the Spirit fell on the Apostles as tongues of fire. On that day, the Spirit sent the Apostles into the streets of Jerusalem speaking all the languages of the world. 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, Stephen was stoned to death; Peter was imprisoned, James was beheaded. Some decades later, Peter and Paul were martyred, crucified upside down.

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. But 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 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. 

What’s the lesson to be learned from this narrative? Wherever you go, carry your Christian faith with you. Don’t live it behind. Wherever you go, go with your Christianity. Teach the world the Christian culture. Teach them your religion. Wherever you go, be who you are in church and at Mass. Wherever you go, teach them right. Teach your family, your people, your friends, your nation, and the world your faith. And you can actually do this without uttering a word. Just the deeds of your life. Gradually and gently you can make Jesus King without sounding offensive. You have the gifts of the Holy Spirit to begin today. 

God bless you!