REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER 26TH APRIL 2024

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER

Acts 13:26-33; Ps.2; John 14:1-6

Jesus is our Security

Security is something very important for every living thing. Virtually all that a man does is geared towards securing himself both for the present and in the future. Nothing else makes sense to a man when his life is threatened. Only a secured mind can meaningfully contribute to the growth and development of a community.

In today’s gospel reading, the security of the apostles seemed to be taken away from them. They had left everything and followed Jesus because they believed that they would be secured with Jesus than with their former pre-occupations. Now, Jesus is telling them of his impending betrayer and death. They had expected that Jesus will help defeat the Romans who persecuted them at that time. Through this defeat, they will be stake holders in the new-world, and so their lives will be ultimately secured. Now, their calculations seems to be falling apart.

Jesus is going to die; not so that the disciples will become insecure but for them to perfectly understand what really counts for security. In the first reading, Paul is proud of the death of Christ because it was followed by the Resurrection. A man’s life is not secured by what he owns but by his intimate union with God. The insecurity we should dread most is a life cut-off from God. If we understand this truth, then we will not measure the value of life on the basis of acquisition of properties.

So many evils, acts of injustice and other vices are committed daily all on the ground of securing ones future. The mystery of death seems to teach us about the vanity of this world, but this lesson seems not to lasts long. After a sober feeling at the death of a love one, no sooner than later, man resumes his selfish way of living.

People who trust in their wealth become guilty of making idols out of material things. Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life; he is the way to security; He is the true security and He is the secured life. The presence of Jesus in our lives may not prevent us from turmoil but it will surely secure our peace for as long as the darkness may last. Resurrection means Victory. The Word of God assures us in Ps.125:1 that “those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken but endures forever”.