Maintain your Spiritual Soil (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF EASTER APRIL 2024

Homily for Easter Friday

Acts 4:1-12. Psalm 118:1-2,4,22-24,25-27a. John 21:1-14.

In the first reading, Peter and John were brought the council assembled into Jerusalem. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke concerning the power behind the healing of the lame man from birth. In his speech, he once testified to the Risen Lord, saying, "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the cornerstone" (Acts 4:10-11).

Peter and John are examples of how true disciples of Christ who are filled with the Holy Spirit should always act. We should never shun any situation that calls us to stand for the truth.

In today's Gospel, seven of Christ's disciples returned to their former profession of fishing, and He appeared to them when they least expected. They laboured all through the night and caught nothing but with the presence of Jesus, who said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some" (John 21:6). When they obeyed, they had a great catch.

With the Lord on our side, there shall be joy and peace. Without him, we shall be empty. Let us always put our trust in the Lord and be authentic witnesses of the Risen Lord.

May God grant us the grace to always operate in the Holy Spirit and stand for the truth always through Christ our Lord. Amen

OR

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF EASTER 

Acts 4:1-12; Ps.118 & 4; John 21:1-14

Maintain your Spiritual Soil

If there is one thing that embarrasses a Christian, it is personal sins; especially a sin that is scandalous. It is sometimes unfathomable that after one may have attained great height in the faith, he or she suddenly finds himself or herself falling into those sins that he or she has long repented of. Such situation, if not well handled, could lead one to depression. In the gospel reading of today, Jesus acted as a counsellor, teaching us that rather than being depressed by sin, we should grow in our understanding that cut off from Christ we can do nothing. This understanding will both enable us to rise up again and strengthen our resolve to follow the Lord once more.

In the gospel reading, Simon Peter announced to the other disciples that he was going fishing; and the other disciples opted to go with him. You remember so well that it was from fishing that Jesus called out his first four disciples (including Simon Peter). He said to them that they will no longer catch fish but men – Jesus called them and changed their career.

Now to return to fishing symbolically means to return to one’s old way of life; to abandon the new life God has given to us. Maybe at some point in our lives, we feel this dryness in our spiritual life; it seems as if everything about righteousness is boring, while sin becomes so attractive. This experience was responsible for the fall of our first parents. This experience too made the Israelites to complain against God and Moses in the wilderness, while making reference to a “glorious life” in Egypt.

Today, we too may find ourselves desiring to return to “fishing”. But then, let us learn from the futile experience of the disciples while they were fishing – if we uproot ourselves from where God has planted us, and then plant ourselves somewhere else, we will never experience fruitfulness. Sin may have the ability to attract but it does not have the capacity to satisfy. Some of the disciples were skilled fishermen, yet their skill could not see them through. Beloved, it is the grace of God that makes the difference; and this grace is apportioned to all who abide in Him.

As a counsellor per excellone, Jesus did not scold them nor express disappointment at their act. He simply graced their effort and made it fruitful. By this, he taught them that cut off from him, they can do nothing. Therefore, the only place they can be fruitful is in doing the work of evangelization.

Another lesson we learn here is that we should never abandon the things of God just because we want to have more time for what pleases us. God is owner of life and time; whatever time we spend for and with him is never a waste.