HOMILY FOR THE 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A.

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Acts 1:12-14; Psalm 26:1, 4, 7-8; 1 Peter 4:13-16, John 17:1-11.

“THE PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today the church celebrates the seventh Sunday of Easter. The last Sunday before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This Sunday is special because Jesus discusses his parting wishes with his disciples and also prayed for the church he was leaving behind.

·      Dearly beloved in Christ, it is not coincidental that last Sunday, Jesus promised his disciples a parting gift which is the Holy Spirit, and today he prays specifically for the church and the leadership of the church he was leaving behind so that they may be strongly united and guided.

·      This is exactly what we see in the unity of the College of Apostles in the first reading (Acts 1:12-14), having witnessed the ascension of Christ into Heaven, they remained united in prayers in the upper room in obedience to the instruction of Jesus to them “stay in Jerusalem until I send you the advocate” (Acts 1:4).

·      Beyond staying in Jerusalem, the church represented by the apostles was not waiting in idleness, they were united in prayer. Hence, we cannot be united if we do not find time to stay together and pray together. The Holy Spirit can only dwell where there is a prayerful unity of purpose.

·      The baptism of the Holy Spirit which was received on the day of Pentecost did not take place just because it was a promise, but more importantly, because of the prayers that stormed the heavens from the Upper Room where Mary and the apostles gathered together in one accord (Acts 2:1-2).

·      Friends in Christ, before something would come from heaven something must leave the earth especially now that Jesus is working from home (heaven). The prayers at the Upper Room in Jerusalem opened the Upper Room of heaven for the Holy Spirit to pour forth on the apostles. This demonstrates a strong and effective communication between earth and heaven which brought forth the promise of the Father; namely, the Holy Spirit.

·      Dear friends in Christ, we must not forget that the apostles locked themselves up in the upper room for fear of the Jews. They fear what will become of them now that their master has been taken away. However, they remained committed to prayers.

·      The second reading on the other hand (1 Peter 4:13-16), reminds us that following Christ has a prize. Before the Christian unity which Christ earnestly desired is achieved, we must be ready to suffer and be insulted in the name of Christ. When we suffer, we ought to endure because of the hope we have in the future glory. 

·      In the gospel reading (John 17:1-11), Jesus rounds up his earthly mission on a high note with a prayer of gratitude committing the church into the hands of God the Father. Having completed his earthly task, he now hands over to his successors (Apostles) while charging them to prepare for the inauguration of the era of the Holy Spirit.

·      Friends in Christ, there is so much to gain when we are prayerfully united. If we stay together and pray together, we grow in grace together. In togetherness, we are protected and provided for (Acts 2).

·      We must realize that if we are not together the Holy Spirit will not come but if the Holy Spirit will come, it is because of our unity. When the Holy Spirit comes, he will give us strength, he will give us courage, he will give us peace, and he will give us progress.

·      Are we really together? Is Jesus’ prayer for Christian unity yielding any fruits? When Christians do not want to see each other eye to eye, there is so much pull-him-down among the Christian fold. In the office, if two people are fighting or keeping malice they are likely to be Christians, worse still Catholics, and maybe of the same parish.

·   Today dearly beloved in Christ, Jesus expressly charges us to take our Christian commitment seriously and work towards prayerful unity in all we do and say. It may be a long tedious journey, but it is achievable. God has promised to accompany us on that journey by sending us the Holy Spirit.

·      My dear friends in Christ, if we yield to the divine call by obeying God’s commandments, by doing away with sin and vice, if we work towards authentic Christian unity devoid of conspiracy and wickedness, devoid of tribal affiliations or selfish interests, then like the psalmist one sure thing is that “I (we) shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living” (Ps. 26:13).

·      May God give us the grace to continue to work for Christian unity. And may the Holy Spirit inspire us to live well and live right, through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!

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