Homily (Reflection) for Sixth Sunday of
Easter, (A) (21st May, 2017) on the Gospel
Acts 8:5-8.14-17;
Ps. 65:1-7.16.20
(R. v. 1);1Pt 3:15-18;
Jn 14:15-21.
A philanthropist noticed that the number of people who
gathered to benefit from his generosity is steadily increasing. Although he
came home with huge sum of money, different food stuff, among other things but
he thought of what would be their fate when he leave the world. As a result, while
addressing them he expressed his desire to make them self-reliant. Since a good
number of them pointed accusing fingers to lack of job opportunities, he
promised to help them find something doing. They were very happy to hear all
these. He went on to tell them that he would do this by helping them in their
farms, building of acquisition centres for them and by taking some to the city.
On hearing of farms and skill acquisition centres many left him accusing him of
insulting them. Even most of those whom he took to the city wanted the money
without working for it.
Topic: Wants the Holy Spirit?
Next two Sundays is the Solemnity of
that day the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). In
preparation for this, many parishes, societies, and even individuals do a lot
of things which include the Novena to the Holy Spirit. However, it is important
to ask ourselves, do we just want to fulfil one of those rituals or does it
mean that we want that same Spirit our fathers in faith received that made them
truly Christians? We read from the Acts of the Apostles: “But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my
witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the
earth” (Acts 1:8). Peter who could
not stand before the maids when filled with the Holy Spirit was able to talk to
the rulers and the elders to their faces, cf. Acts 4:8; Mk 14:66-71.
Holy Spirit is very important hence David prayed: “Cast me
not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps 51:11). It is important to know that
Holy Spirit can be one’s enemy; hence prophet Isaiah wrote: “But they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself
fought against them” (Is 63:10).
Saint Paul wrote: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own” (1Cor 6:19). In his letter to the
Ephesians he warns: “… do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph
4:30).
We read from the gospel:
If you love me, you will keep my
commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,
to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he
abides with you, and he will be in you (Jn
14:15-17).
This quotation points to the fact that the Holy Spirit is
God’s gift to those who love him. Saint Peter and other apostles say in Acts of
the Apostles: “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts
5:32).
Dear friends, whoever wants the Holy Spirit must ask the
Father who is ever ready to give the Holy Spirit to whoever truly asks for it,
cf. Lk 11:13. And the gift of the
Holy Spirit cannot be obtained through dubious means as Simon the magician
thought, cf. Acts 8:18-19. Again, it
is freely given by the Father to whoever is ready for it, cf. Acts 10:45. So as we prepare for the
solemnity of Pentecost let us not prepare for the gifts as the people we saw in
our introductory story but let us prepare for the Holy Spirit by working on our
lives. The choice is ours.
Bible Reading: Rom 12:1-21; Is 63:7-14.
Thought for today:
Do you
really want to receive the Holy Spirit?
Let us pray: Lord, help us to be ready for the Holy Spirit so
that as we prepare for the celebration of that day the apostles received Him,
may we also be ready for Him – Amen.
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free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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