GOD IS PRESENT EVEN IN SORROWFUL TIMES-- REMAIN PRAYERFUL (HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER 23RD MAY 2022

GOD IS PRESENT EVEN IN SORROWFUL TIMES --- REMAIN PRAYERFUL (Acts 16:22-24; Jn 16:5-11)

In the eyes of the faithless, suffering, misery, hardship, agony, sorrow, scourging, and persecutions are sure demonstrations of the absence of God; that one had been abandoned by God to his whims and caprices.  The liturgy of the word today addresses that mind construct by maintaining that God is readily available even at the sorrowful moments of our lives.  In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that “the magistrate had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they were severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, in the innermost cell and their feet fastened in the stocks”.

This was a clear indication of the mistreatment and persecution Paul and Silas underwent for the sake of preaching the Gospel of Christ. The brutality, notwithstanding, they anchored their faith and trust in God and did not allow their pain to infringe on their joy in God, for we are told, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). While they were offering praises to God, “suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken and the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened” (Acts 16:26).

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, God never relinquishes his children. He is present to us in all situations of life, whether joyful or sorrowful. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, He is with us. Let us not mistake the silence of God for his absence. Like Paul and Silas, let nothing take away the joy and glory of God in our lives, be it suffering, hardship, persecutions, fears etc. Through prayers and hymns of praise, let's continually feel the glory of God within and around us. In Matthew 1:23, the word of God says “and they shall call his name Emmanuel which means ‘God is with’ ”, in Mathew 28:20 it says, “I shall be with you always even until the end of time”. Friends in Christ, in dark and dreary moments of life, let us incessantly recline to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Counselor,  the Teacher of truth to illuminate our obscured minds to perceive with surety the presence of God in the ugliest moment of our life. The word of God says that “when the Counsellor comes, He will prove the world (faithless) wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, about judgement because the ruler of this world has been condemned” (Jn 16:8-11).

I pray for you this day, that the power of God will shatter all the barriers that keep you captive in the might name of Jesus, and even in the sorrowful times of life the miracles of God will never cease in your lives and families through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a glorious day,

Fr Remi osj