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HOMILIES ARCHIVE
HOMILIES
Dear Audience,For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!
Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)
95
2
0First Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47)
The community of believers devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms of David (118:2-4,13-15,22-24)
(R) Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting.
Let the house of Israel say, "His mercy endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His mercy endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say, "His mercy endures forever." (R)
I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. (R)
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R)
Second Reading
A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter (1:3-9)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen Him you love Him; even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Gospel
A reading from the Gospel according to John (20:19-31)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you have life in his name.
(P) The Gospel of the Lord.(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
A conversation between two Catholic friends about Sunday church attendance goes like this. One says, "It makes no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now and during this time, I have heard something about 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember even a single sermon. I think I'm wasting my time, and the priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." The other one argues, "I have been married for 30 years now and during this time, my wife has cooked over 30,000 meals. But I can't, for the life of me recall the entire menu even for a single meal. But I do know this: The food I have consumed not only kept me full but also given much needed energy, comfort, and strength for physical and mental health. If I didn't have those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church which offers spiritual nourishment through communal worship, fellowship, and the teaching of God's Word, I would be spiritually dead today."
People stop attending church and, subsequently, abandon their faith for many reasons, such as irrelevant liturgy, interpersonal conflict, lack of connection, hypocrisy within community, busy lifestyles, disagreements with doctrines, disappointments in leadership, emotional fatigue and so on. Some people maintain their personal belief in God but avoid church activities and institutions. When it comes to church and faith, it is common human experience to feel disappointed, discouraged, or even to be tempted to give up especially when facing doubt, unanswered prayers, or personal pain. But today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47) teaches us that instead of abandoning faith or quitting church, we can maintain our faith and interest by steadfastly following the practices of the early church, commonly known as the "four pillars."
First, the early Christians demonstrated an unwavering devotion to the "apostles' teaching." What did the apostles teach? Well, the apostles taught "what they had personally seen and heard", 1 John (1:3). In other words, the apostles taught the truth of what had happened - specifically Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection - rather than myths and stories. They testified to having seen, touched, heard, eaten and interacted with Jesus Christ both during His public ministry and after His resurrection. They courageously proclaimed that God made Jesus, whom they had crucified, both Lord and Messiah, Acts (2:36). They spoke with boldness the need for repentance - a radical change of mind and behaviour, and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. They strongly emphasized that Jesus is the sole source of salvation, and "no other name" can save, Acts (4:12).
Second, the early Christians sincerely committed themselves to a shared life, radical generosity, and unity. They supported and encouraged one another as a "family of God." They lived in close communities and held all things in common. They voluntarily sold their properties and possessions to provide for anyone in need.
Third, the early Christians continually dedicated themselves to the "breaking of bread." Here, "breaking of bread" refers to more than regular meals eaten together in homes. It points to the celebration of the Lord's Supper or Holy Eucharist in memory of the body and blood of Jesus Christ sacrificed on the cross. This act was a direct response to Jesus' command at the Last Supper, where He instructed His disciples to "do this in remembrance of me", Luke (22:19). The frequent partaking together of this act, reminded them of Jesus bringing salvation to mankind by His suffering and ultimate death.
Four, the early Christians regularly devoted themselves to "the prayers." The use of the phrase "the prayers" in the plural refers to the regular, formal, and structured prayers in Judaism observed daily, rather than merely personal or spontaneous private prayer. So, the writer of Acts points out that the early Christians, being largely Jewish, continued to participate in the traditional daily morning and evening hours of prayer held in the Temple courts which included praising God, reciting the Shema prayer, and singing the Psalms while simultaneously gathering in their homes for breaking bread and fellowship. Their daily meetings in the Temple and in homes were not merely social, but a direct expression of their faith that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Jewish law, prophecies, and rituals. This daily routine of worship and community life attracted others, and "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved".
What is the message for us?
We must give importance to the foundational teachings of Jesus as passed down by the apostles and recorded throughout the Old and New Testaments, for a meaningful, peaceful, and purposeful Christian life, focusing on love, grace, forgiveness, redemption rather than just strict adherence to rituals. St Jude writes that these teachings are not merely stories, but "real, authoritative, and divinely sanctioned truths", Jude (3). In a world filled with confusion, frustration, and fear, knowing God's Word serves as an anchor bringing clarity, security and peace. It provides a firm foundation, acting as "a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths", Psalm (119:105), ensuring that even in darkness, we are not walking blindly.
If we have failed to find Christ or feel distant from Christ despite being in the faith for many years, that's because we lack a serious engagement with Scripture. While preachers consciously or unconsciously entertain people with excessive stories, jokes, and anecdotes over biblical truth, listeners are content with so called, "sugary" or "shallow" or "entertainment-driven" preaching. When we, as individuals and communities, turn away from the truth, we'll certainly become vulnerable to deception, moral decay, and a weakened, lukewarm faith. So, let us make Bible study a priority so that we may foster spiritual growth, gain wisdom, and mature in faith. Let us commit ourselves to hearing all of God's Word, not just easy, comforting, selected portions or familiar parts, so that we may gain a holistic understanding of God's character, His Holiness, His Love and His plan for humanity. Let us courageously and consistently preach and share the Word even when it is unpopular, 2 Timothy (4:2).
We must embrace the spirit of "open-handedness," modelled by the early Christians, trusting in God's provision, offering hospitality, and sharing our food, resources, time, and talents generously and willingly with those in need, particularly among fellow believers. However, sharing with fellow believers requires active knowledge of their needs, which is central to biblical fellowship, mutual care, and fulfilling the "law of Christ" by bearing one another's burdens. This involves intentional engagement to understand physical, emotional, and spiritual needs to effectively encourage, pray for, and support others.
In many communities around the world, church attendance is increasingly becoming a passive activity rather than an active engaged lifestyle for many believers. Many churchgoers are content with only going to church Sunday after Sunday and sit and sing and hear a sermon and return home. They view faith as purely private. They show little interest in fellowship or interactions with others due to past negative experiences, time constraints, preference for individualism and self-sufficiency and so on. Even after being in the same church or community for years, some people do not personally know their priests, pastors, or those assisting at their church. They are more comfortable that way. But today we are reminded that faith requires a commitment to others in the faith. Jesus does not force us to share everything we own with others. No. He does not ask us to sell all our possessions, but He might if there is a need.
He does command us to share our lives together, to work together, to support one another and to help the people around us. This is caring "koinonia" - the voluntary sharing of what God has given us with those who need it, even if we must go without. This is seeing a need within the Body of Christ and doing whatever we can to meet that need, even to the point of self-sacrifice. While some may prefer to be left alone, the early church's practice serves as a reminder that interaction with fellow believers is not optional, but a calling. It is meant to be a way to serve others, build trust, and demonstrate love, 1 Peter (4:9).
The breaking of bread, or the Holy Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper is the most central act of our Church's worship and the foremost gathering for prayer, thanksgiving, and fellowship, uniting us with Christ and with fellow believers. In his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul instructs early Christians to regularly eat the bread and drink the cup as remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice, 1 Corinthians (11:26). Let us, therefore, partake in the breaking of bread and sharing of the cup, or the Holy Eucharist, as often as possible - daily or weekly - whether in small groups or in large gatherings. And at the same time, we must do it with devotion, faith, gladness and sincerity of hearts.
We must devote ourselves to prayer, both private and communal, integrating it into our daily lives and relationships. All prayers are powerful. When a believing and righteous person prays, great things happen, James (5:16-18). Jesus says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst", Matt (18:20). "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son", John (14:13). These grand promises are guaranteed to us provided, like the early Christians, we too commit to living as devoted believers rather than casual followers.
Let us, therefore, as believers, make a deliberate and consistent effort to connect with God through prayer, regardless of the circumstances or location. Let us prioritize prayer by scheduling it, eliminating distractions, and maintaining persistence. Let us pray at home with family, during travel, and in the church. However, our prayers should be primarily about experiencing God's presence, cultivating awe, and aligning ourselves with God's will, rather than personal wants and desires.
The writings of the apostles, particularly the Epistles and Acts of the Apostles clearly show that the early believers were far from perfect, facing intense internal strife and external pressure. Despite these challenges, they remained unwaveringly committed to the foundational pillars of the faith: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Therefore, they offer a model for living a life of total commitment, radical generosity, sacrificial love, and unwavering faith in today's increasingly secular, materialistic, and often hostile world.
When we focus on these foundational pillars - apostles' teaching, fellowship or sharing, breaking of bread, and prayer - our families and communities can also become vibrant, resilient, united, and truly transformative, reflecting Christ's character of sacrificial love, unity, and joyful generosity.
(P) Amen.God Bless You!
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