The Glory of Faithfulness (HOMILY FOR THE 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 2023

HOMILY ON THE 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Acts 1:12-14; Ps.27; 1Peter 4:13-16; John 17:1-11a

“ _Father, the hour has come; glorify your son that the Son may glorify you_ ” (Jn.17:1)

The Glory of Faithfulness

Together, the readings of today give us another dimension of the word “glory”. Ordinarily, we will understand glory to mean splendor or magnificence. It is often time hoped for as the reward God will give to those who are faithful to Him till the end of time. So, when we ask God to glorify us, we asking for a glimpse of the splendor which is associated with Him. But today, we come to realize that glory also means faithfulness. To be glorified also entails to be faithful. This understanding is obvious in the gospel reading of today. The gospel reading is the beginning of the “Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. It is that soul-touching prayer that Jesus made for his disciples at the verge of his passion. At that point, Jesus prayed essentially for two things: the grace to finish his earthly course and for the unity of the disciples.

The glory of God does not only mean that splendor of God but also the grace to attain that splendor. Jesus needed to undergo the paschal mystery in order to fully bring about the glory of God in the lives of men; but as the passion drew nearer, the burden of it became heavier. The possibility of giving up at that point was very high just as some persons develop examination fever when the examination is nigh. At this point, Jesus asked that God should glorify him so that when he has successfully completed the mission, he in turn will glorify God. By asking for glory, Jesus was asking for the grace and strength to remain faithful to the end. We too need this glory.

Today, it seems all too easy to profess the faith when things are going well. It seem easy to remember and quote portions of the bible when our faith is not yet challenged. It is always easier to point out how others abandoned the faith in their trial moments, when we have not found ourselves in their shoes. But we may find ourselves doing the very things we speak/preach/stood against when the chips are down. Peter promised Jesus that even if the whole world fails, he (Peter) will never abandon Jesus. But not too long when he was faced with threats to his life, he sworn that he never knew the Lord.

Dear friends in Christ, the fact is that we cannot be faithful to God without the glory of God. It takes more than the knowledge of the good and a resolution to actually do the good. 1Sam.2:9 made it clear that by strength shall not man prevail. We can only prevail by the power of God. If Jesus can ask for the power to prevail, who am I, and who are you not to ask for the same power?

The effect of Jesus’ prayer in the gospel is seen in the first reading. The first reading records how after the ascension of the Lord, the disciples obediently returned to Jerusalem as the Lord had instructed them. What is so interesting here is that they promptly obeyed this instruction to return to Jerusalem. This was a trying moment for them all; they were yet to fully understand the meaning of Christ’s departure. For them, it meant Christ leaving them orphan; it further meant the non-actualization of their intention for following Jesus.

With this feeling of disappointment, obeying Jesus would have been the last thing in their minds. Again, if they had been pretentious in their followership of Jesus, now that he is away, their true colour would have manifested. The immediate return of the disciples to Jerusalem speaks of their ardent faithfulness to Christ; a faithfulness that never ceased at Jesus’ absence, a faithfulness that remained even when their faith were being challenged. This is the faithfulness that Jesus prayed for in the gospel reading of today. This faithfulness leads us to the end were we shall behold the reward God has kept for us. Filled with this faithfulness, the psalmist exclaimed in hope: I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Looking once more at Jesus’ prayer in the gospel reading, we see that what glorifies God more is a Christianity that remains steadfast in the face of persecution. The strength of our love for God is shown when things do not turn out in our favour; when the world drags us but we choose to remain on the side of God. So, in the second reading, Peter asked that we count ourselves fortunate when we share in God’s suffering; that is, when we suffer for doing the right thing. Peter says that such is a sign that we have the spirit of glory and of God resting on us.

Beloved, the experience of glory does not begin with the joy of splendor but with the ability to remain faithful at the most critical moments of our lives. Therefore, as we wait upon the Holy Spirit, let us ask Him for the grace of faithfulness. We all know what is right; we can do the right thing but the challenge is the will-power; the readiness to bear the cross of doing what is right. Our spirit is weakened by what people will say, what we shall loose, those we may offend, the loneliness we may experience for doing the right thing. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for strength to prevail so that we may always and everywhere be faithful. We are not faithful unless it is onto God.