Every Sunday and solemn feast day, we celebrate the mysteries of our faith in a special way. We have resources here to enrich your celebration of God’s word this weekend.
The series “Sunday Liturgy in Efik” below is a publication of the Society of St Paul (The Paulines), No.3 Atan Ikot Okoro, Essien Udim L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
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Sunday Liturgy in Efik_2ND SUN_LENT (C)
HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR C
1st Reading: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29
Psalm: []
2nd Reading: Rev 21: 10-14, 22-23
Gospel: John 14: 23-29
GENERAL MESSAGE
Disheartened by Jesus’ imminent departure after the resurrection, it is very consoling to hear Him speak of the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. It is not God’s intention that His children live under burdens.
The 1st reading is the account of the circumstances leading to the 1st Ecumenical council in Jerusalem. It also contains the decisions reached at that council. The Holy Spirit is always the principal part of the Church’s summit.
In the 2nd reading, John describes the splendour of the New Jerusalem introduced to him in the spirit. Lit by the radiant glory of God, it is presented as the place to be because the lamb would be the lighted torch for it.
Against the imminent departure of Jesus after the resurrection, John, here in the Gospel reading, presents the caring Jesus as He tries to explain the necessity of His departure but more still as He assures His disheartened disciples that the Holy Spirit will continue and perfect His mission.
HOMILY POINTS
Salvation demands more inward conversion than outward signs
The wisdom in seeking the opinion of elders…
The Holy Spirit and the Church…
True religion does not impose any burdens beyond the essentials
Beware of false teachings/teachers
The glory of the beatific vision
The role of the Spirit on the journey to the New Jerusalem
The Lamb as the lighted touch in the Christian’s journey to the Kingdom
If you love Jesus, keep His words
Making God part of your home…
The Holy Spirit as teacher
The Holy Spirit as reminder…
That Blessed assurance
He is going for our good
Do not let your hearts be troubled…
Sample Homily
Theme: That Blessed Assurance…
Dear friends,
It is in the finite nature man to be worried about the future. We are always afraid because we are limited. Only God is unlimited. Only God is all-knowing and so God cannot be afraid of the future because He knows and holds the future in His hands. In this situation man depends on the assurance of the ‘other’ about what the future holds for him. That ‘other’ cannot but be God Himself who knows and holds the future. One can imagine if this God refuses to talk or if He talks but refuses to address the fears of man. That would be terrible for man. But thank God we have a God who is very sensitive to the plight and feelings of His people. We have a God who is caring and who is concerned over our plight. We have a God who does not want His people to live in unnecessary fear. It is that God who assures His people of a safe future in today’s readings and it is that blessed assurance that we need to pray for in our future endeavours in life.
The readings of this Mass help us to appreciate the extent of God’s love for those who decide to follow Him. In the 1streading, it must have been very consoling for the new Gentile converts to have the assurance, not just from the Apostles, but mainly from the Holy Spirit that they would not need to be saddled with unnecessary burden besides the essentials of the faith. This assurance was very much needed and it came to soothe the situation. The 2nd reading is also a type of assurance of the existence and the admission into the beatific vision for those who identify with the Lamb. The New Jerusalem is assured as the heritage of the believers. I believe that the most consoling assurance was that of Christ in the Gospel of today. Given that He was about to go back to the Father in Heaven, He assured His people that the Holy Spirit was on the way to complete and perfect what He (Jesus) had started. He even told them clearly never to fear nor be intimidated.
This type of Blessed assurance was very important for the early Church. It is very important for the Church today and it will remain a desired need for tomorrow’s Church. We are called to appreciate the type of God we have. He does not leave His people in doubt. But we are also invited to pray for the continuity and sustenance of this blessed assurance in the Church today. It is interesting to see that in the decision by the 1st council of Jerusalem, the order of operation is ‘The Holy Spirit and ourselves (Apostles).’ The Holy Spirit comes before the human beings. Let us pray that whatever assurance, whatever decisions we would reach in today’s Church may truly be the assurance of that Holy Spirit and not a fruit of human manipulations. It is only when it comes from God and when the Holy Spirit is the Principal ‘author’ that it can be termed the same ‘Blessed assurance’ of today’s readings. We pray for this and we hope for it through Christ our Lord. Amen.
