Let not your hearts be troubled (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 2023

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER (MAY 05, 2023)

Acts 13:26-33; Ps.26; John 14:1-6

Let not your hearts be troubled

In today’s first reading, Paul continues his words of exaltation in the synagogue at Antioch. Here, his historical narrative got to the point where good was repaid with the worse kind of evil. Paul noted that this evil was done because those involved did not recognize the good. They were not able to recognize the good because they had not been listening to the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath. From this we understand that it was the separation from the Word of God that caused this big error of not recognizing and killing the Son of God.

Beloved, ignorance of the scripture is dangerous. From the Scripture, we are able to gain not just knowledge and enlightenment but also a kind of spiritual alertness that enables us to be sensitive to what is good and godly. Exposure to God’s Word helps us to have a good grasp of how God works and how to understand His presence in the different situations of our lives. A good knowledge of Scripture strengthens us to keep our weaknesses under check, irrespective of how society exalts vices. From the Scripture, we learn how to discern the mind/voice of God. If we do not meet God daily in His Word, we will lack the manual for living appropriately in this controversial world.

Paul’s exaltation ended with how God glorified His name in Jesus after the men have done their worse. This is to teach us that good will always triumph over evil. The fact that no one expected the resurrection of Christ should teach us that when we are besieged with the crookedness of life, we will not be able to fathom how God will write straight on it. The limitation of our reasoning capacity should never make us think that God is incapable. And so, in the gospel reading, Jesus asked his disciples not to let their hearts be troubled. They became troubled when it was glaring to them that Jesus was leaving them. They became troubled because they interpreted the absence of Jesus to mean abandonment. They were troubled because Jesus was leaving them when their aspirations for following him had not yet been met.

Jesus asked his disciples not to be troubled because He will always be with them. In fact, He is going to prepare a place for them so that his togetherness with them will transcend this physical world. This teaches us that Jesus so much desires to be with us on a permanent basis. While we may be thinking that he has left us, he is working out how we can be more intimate with Him. While the Israelites thought that the long absence of Moses meant that the Lord had left them, little did they know that the Lord was working out with Moses a more solidified union with His people through the commandments.

Beloved, we need a little of spiritual insight to understand that what may seem like our worse moment is God’s plan to launch us into greater heights. But we cannot develop this spiritual insight unless we daily submerge ourselves in God’s Word. The bible may contain history but it is not a book of history; the Word of God is alive and active. In the words of the psalmist, the Lord calls us his Son. What sought of a child will not know the father?

OR

Homily for Friday of the 4th Week of Easter. 

Acts 13:26-33. Psalm 2:6-7,8-9,10-11a. John 14:1-6.

In today's first reading, St. Paul reminds the Jews of Antioch in Pisidia of their heritage as descendants of Abraham, who are God's children. They have been begotten by God as father. Even though their wrong idea of the Messiah made them kill Jesus but God raised him after three days. Like the Jews, by the virtue of baptism, we are God's children.

As God's children, we have nothing to be worried about. Whenever it seems we have lost our way or our life becomes meaningless, then it is time to return to the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, in today's Gospel, tells his disciples and us, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-3). This is good news for us. We should not be afraid or troubled because through Christ's death and resurrection, He has gone well ahead of us to be with him in heaven.

Jesus tells us, "I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

He is the way that leads to the Father. We often find ourselves at cross roads, not knowing which path to choose. In a situation like this, we must not forget Christ. He is the way that leads to full and lasting happiness.

Christ is the truth. Truth is the deepest need of the human heart. He is the one who reveals fully to us the mystery of man and of the world.

Christ is the life. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). True fullness of life is to be found only in Christ. He alone gives strength and joy of living, in spite of any limit or external impediment.

Discovering Christ is the finest adventure in life. We must discover him more and more by receiving the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, and meditating on his words.

May God grant us the grace to discover Him more and more by receiving the sacraments worthily and doing his will through Christ our Lord. Amen.