DAILY HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF EASTER
THEME: Let us Remain in the love of Christ, so that our joy might be complete.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY MAY 19 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 95:1-3,10
John 15:9-11
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In todays first reading, Peter declares to the leaders of the church that ‘God made no distinction between them (the pagans) and us’. There was no longer one chosen people. God had shown through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that he was choosing everyone equally. God was giving the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of his love, to all equally, Jew and pagan. Peter was proclaiming a God who does not discriminate. This was in keeping with the teaching of Jesus. As Jesus says on one occasion, God ‘makes his sun rise on the evil and the good.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In the short gospel reading this morning there is a strong emphasis on love, God the Father’s love for Jesus, Jesus’ love for all of us, and his call on us to remain in his love. The call to remain in Jesus’ love suggests that we already find ourselves within his love and our task is to remain there. In other words, the Lord’s love for us is a given; we don’t have to look for it or work for it. We are born into the Lord’s love; we are baptized into his love. We only have to remain there. The call to remain in the Lord’s love suggests that.
*CONCLUSION*
Jesus wants us to experience his joy and tells us that this is found as we live in union with him as we keep his commandments. We don’t find true and complete joy in self-determination and self-reliance, but by recognizing our dependence on God as “the source of wisdom and freedom, of joy and confidence.
*LET US PRAY*
Lord, help me be grateful for all the blessings of my day and the little things that give me the experience of happiness but also help me desire true joy that goes beyond circumstances. Keep me focused on you and secure in you. Strengthen my trust in you, so that no matter what happens, I find my joy as I remain in you and am faithful to your commandments.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA