HOMILY OF 7TH MONDAY IN EASTERTIDE — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 67(68):2-7; John 16:29-33
When we face adversarial situations and devastating challenges in life, it is easy to think that God has abandoned us. In today’s gospel, Jesus prepares our minds for those challenges even before we face them, especially since we are often in such situations because of our determination to maintain Christian values and our refusal to compromise them.
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Jesus acknowledges that despite our relationship with him, we would not be immune from difficulties and challenges. At such times, it is natural to feel alone, but we must learn from his disposition. Just as in his being deserted by his human friends and left by himself, he reasserts that, indeed, he is never alone, since the Father is with him; so also, we are never really alone. God is with us always and Christ never lets us walk by ourselves. Like the 23rd Psalm asserts, our confidence must remain firm, for, even though we walk in the valley of darkness or the shadow of death, we would not fear, for the Shepherd remains with us, with his staff and rod to comfort us and give us courage. Knowing that we are never alone and the reassurance that God is always with us bring us peace, even in the most difficult of times. So, Jesus says: “I have told you this so that you may find peace in me.” He is our only source of lasting peace. That is the peace that the Holy Spirit sustains in the Church and in each of us. Like those disciples in today’s first reading, we pray that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit will be mighty in our lives, especially as it concerns total and unalloyed obedience to Christ, an unflinching and bold commitment to our prophetic mission and a generous and selfless love of God and neighbor.
Come Spirit of Courage and Truth; fall afresh upon us. Amen.
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