HOMILY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C.

Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Apocalypse 21:1-5; John 13:31-35.

“LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

 

·      Living the Christian life comes with a lot of tributaries. It is no longer enough to tell yourself I am a Christian, I go to church every day or every Sunday. Christian life goes beyond that.

·      Christianity is a life of total sacrifice and modelling, not to show off; but to attain salvation. We must be shining lights wherever we find ourselves. Even when we constantly face opposition and negativity, that should not deter us but rather inspire us.

·      The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, tells us that Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the word of God at Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, but they also were not only preaching the Word, but they also lived it and it made deep impressions on the life of the people, to inspire genuine conversion. The life Paul and Barnabas were living was so loud a testimony to the good news that the people had no option but to believe. 

·      Dear friends in Christ our world today needs witnesses, not those who preach the word, but those who live the word. Our Christian Faith can only make an impact if we all resolve to practice what we preach and read daily.

·      This is not to say that living a Christian life does not have its practical challenges. Being a Christian puts the world against you. To live the Christian life means you will constantly find yourself swimming against the currents of the world, and encountering serious oppositions and affronts. The first reading tells us that it is necessary to undergo hardship and persecution, and forsake the gospel for us to enter into the kingdom of God (Acts. 14:22). Hence we must strive to enter through the narrow and unpopular gate while being strengthened in spirit and persevering in faith.

·      As Paul and Barnabas travelled they carried their faith along with them. They were 24hrs Christians. Unfortunately, some of us are only Christians when we come to the church on Sundays. People find it difficult to reconcile the “you” in the office with the “you” in the church, they find it difficult to reconcile your wicked and dubious character when you are on your business premises, with who you pretend to be in the church. You are such a terrible boss or madam in the office and here in the church, you belong to St. Vincent De Paul serving the poor with the greatest humility. Hmm! 

·      Today the Lord calls you and I to put our lives in order and be Christian witnesses in season and out of season, in good times and in bad times. Just be a Christian all the time. You cannot drop it today and take it up tomorrow because your life witnessing becomes the gospel others are reading.

·      Dear friends in Christ, it is not too late to begin anew, the second reading from the Book of Revelation tells us that the Lord is doing a new thing (Rev. 21:5). Old things have passed away and new things have come to stay, the old you of sin and pretentious living have passed away, and the new you of living a committed Christian life have come to stay. It is only those who have renewed and refreshed their commitment to the Christian life that will possess the new heaven and new earth that the Lord will make.

·      We must make God's dwelling among us be felt. If we must live the Christian life then, we must be the God people yearn for, bringing them relief and succour. If we live the Christian life always, we will not be living in reckless affluence while people within our neighbourhood live in abject poverty. If we truly live the Christian life, we will not acquire property throughout the length and breadth of the world, and live them unoccupied while a lot of people are homeless. If we are living the Christian life, we will not first demand a bribe in cash or kind before offering someone a job.

·      My dear brothers and sisters, the world is in serious need of Christian witnesses. Whatever position you occupy in society, the Lord put you there to bring relief and respite to those who encounter you. Do not imagine that you are the best person for that position. It is but for the grace of God, then why will you not serve God and humanity with the opportunity he has offered you.

·      The world is in tears and needs it to be wiped away, there are so much death and mourning in the land. God wants to dwell among us, God wants to do a new thing in our families, our church, our studies, our businesses, our country, and society.

·      The son of man our Lord Jesus must be glorified by our way of life. The Gospel reading tells us that if God must be glorified and we too are glorified, then we embrace the life of witnessing no matter the hardship, the insults, the trials, and persecution, the only way out is to continue to show to love to even those who are most undeserving of it. We must continue to love one another irrespective of our various classes, tribal divides, and political affiliations.

·      Our Christian identity is Love, authentic witnessing, and Christian life must be inspired by the love of God and love of neighbour. If our love for each is deep, sincere, and selfless then the words of the onlookers in the Acts of the Apostles “See how they love themselves, they are Christians” (Acts. 11:26) will be re-echoed in our time.

·      Dear friends in Christ, you and I have been called to be Christians and to live it out daily. It is not going to be easy. Challenges and misunderstandings will come but our weapon of victory is to remain Christians by continuing to show love in the face of hostile hatred. May God give us the grace to live a life of witnessing, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!