Preserving your God-given freedom (HOMILY/SERMON FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER APRIL 2023

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER

Acts 5:27-33; Ps.34; John 3:31-36

Preserving your God-given freedom

Yesterday we saw that the Word of God sets free. But what is the nature of this freedom? Although an angel of the Lord delivered the apostles from the prison bars, this freedom of the Word of God is not essentially in physical terms; it is a freedom that puts away everything that could inhibit us from preaching and living out the Word of God. When we get to the level whereby nothing both from within and outside us can stop us from associating with the Word of God, then we are truly free.

In the first reading of today, we come to fully understand the freedom the Word of God brought upon the apostles. Again the authorities summoned and queried them to defiling their warnings not to speak anymore in the name of Jesus. While the authorities were spelling out the gravity of their offence, the apostles courageous defended their actions. The apostles were not threatened by the implications the authorities were drawing from their act of preaching the gospel. In fact, they further drew more implications that exposed the wickedness of the authorities. The apostles could not be intimidated by fear of offending the authorities. The freedom of the Word of God gave them the courage to surpass these human obstructions.

But also, the apostles quickly enlightened the authorities that they (the apostles) are not responsible for the exaltation of the name of Jesus. God Himself exalted his Son by raising him from the grave. They are simply witnesses! The apostles were invariably telling the authorities that they are not their problem; fighting them will not stop the reign of the name of Jesus or thwart the truth of the resurrection. Let us learn to stop fight the medium through which the truth is made known to us. The medium is not the source. Christ himself is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn.14:6). In the gospel reading, Jesus said to Nicodemus: He who comes from above is above all.

Beloved, we need to evaluate our attitude towards the Word of God. Are we living it out? What is obstructing us from associating with it? Where, how and to whom have we sold out our freedom so that we now compromise rather than preach and live out the Word with courage? Many have sold out their consciences to the extent that truth now irritates them. If we are not ready to reclaim our God-given freedom, the Word of God will not be affected. We are called to be witnesses to the Word; the Word does not depend on us.

The Lenten season is over. What are we doing now? Are we returning to the Egypt from which we were delivered during the lent through our Lenten observances? There are more heights to climb in our spiritual journey; moving back and forth will not help us make meaningful progress.