Homily for Friday of the 6th Week of Easter Year A
Theme: BE LIKE PAUL; UNAFRAID, AND GALLIO; JUST ALWAYS
By: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
Homily for Friday May 22 2020
READINGS: ACTS 18:9-18, PSALM 47, JOHN 16:20-23a
Whenever God assigns us a task, he also gives us the attendant grace to accomplish it. Paul had the task of preaching the gospel in the face of fiery persecution, he was afraid but God told him: “Stop being afraid; go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10). This resonates God’s call to us in Isaiah 43:1-3 that we shouldn’t be afraid, because he knows us by name, we are his and nothing can harm us. With this in mind, Paul went on preaching ferociously about Christ to the utter disgust of the Jews who as usual, plotted his fall. God of course kept his promise by inspiring Gallio, proconsul of Achaia to defend him.
Paul trusted in God like a child trusts his/her parents and it proved vital for him. We are charged today to rely obediently on God for our help and security; we are to have a child-like trust in him in moments of; ill health, unemployment, terrorism, injustice, hunger, poverty, oppression and persecution. When our farms produce poor yields, our businesses wouldn’t just progress; when our families are falling apart, etc. when our land is watered with human blood, when we are bereaved, depressed and almost despairing; we should hear God saying to us; ‘do not be afraid, go on being faithful to me, I know you by name, you are mine and I am with you’. When we do this, God will supply for us from unexpected sources like he did for Paul. God can raise up many Gallios for us today too if only we completely rely on him for our help and guide.
Differently, Gallio has become a challenge to the many of us today. We are told he was famous for his kindness; so much so that Seneca his brother said of him: ‘No man was ever as sweet to one as Gallio is to all’. He kept true to his nature and wisely refused to hurt Paul unjustly. He has become a challenge to the many unjust judges in our court rooms; the many bias traditional, religious and political leaders we have around. He has become a challenge to the elders in homes and settlements, teachers, bosses and those in positions of power and authority, who are definitions of injustice and corruption. He didn’t allow himself to be manipulated or prevailed upon by the Jews to act against the Christians. Don’t we have judges, leaders, elders etc. who are very bias and who for selfish gains are prevailed upon by the rich and dubious of our society? Gallio should challenge us all.
May God help us even as we trust and put all our hope in him.
May we, on our part be like Paul and Gallio. Amen.
FEED ONE POOR, PROMOTE JUSTICE