HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 3RD WEEK OF EASTER.
THEME: Jesus said to the crowd, “I tell you most solemnly, everybody who believes has eternal life.
BY: Rev Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 65:8-9,16-17,20
John 6:44-51
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*ABOUT THE FIRST READING*
This morning’s first reading is one of many wonderful stories in the Acts of the Apostles, the story of how an Ethiopian eunuch who served at the court of the queen of Ethiopia came to Christ. The Holy Spirit had a major role to play in bringing the Ethiopian to Jesus, but Philip the evangelist and the Ethiopian himself had their roles to play as well. It was the Holy Spirit who prompted Philip to meet the Ethiopian. It was presumably the Spirit who prompted the Ethiopian to read the passage of Scripture that so intrigued him. The Ethiopian asked Philip to explain the Scripture he was reading and Philip responded to his request. A little later the Ethiopian asked Philip to baptize him and Philip responded to that request too.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 3RD WEEK OF EASTER.
*ABOUT OUR GOSPEL READING*
In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus makes the striking statement, ‘everybody who believes in me has eternal life’. He does not say, ‘will have eternal life’, but he says, ‘has eternal life’. We would normally think of eternal life as beginning after our earthly life is completed, but this morning’s gospel reading suggests that eternal life is somehow accessible to us here and now, during this earthly life. Eternal life in the gospel of John is understood as a life of communion with Jesus, the source of true life. Such a life of communion with the Lord can be experienced here and now by all those who believe in him, who come to him in faith and who try to keep his word.
*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE TWO LITURGICAL READINGS OF TODAY!*
1. Our first reading reminds us that we need the Holy Spirit to come to Christ and to grow in our relationship with him, but the Spirit, in turn, needs our contribution, our own good desires and our willingness to respond to the call of others.
2. The Gospel reading teaches us that, In so far as we are in communion with the Lord in this life we already experience something of the eternal life that awaits us. Communion with the Lord is the gateway to eternal life here and now and beyond this life. We traditionally use the term ‘holy communion’ to refer to the Eucharist. We recognize that in and through the Eucharist we enter into communion with the Lord, and with each other, in a special way. Because it is a time of communion with the Lord, the church has always understood the Eucharist as the anticipation of eternal life. In this moment of communion, heaven comes to earth and eternal life breaks into this earthly life.
*CONCLUSION*
May the Risen Lord, our God and Saviour Jesus Christ continue to be with us and guide us always, and may He continue to empower and strengthen us so that we may persevere faithfully and continue to commit ourselves to His path.
Lord Jesus you are true the bread of Life, help me to always trust in you. Amen.
Rev Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
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