Fr Ebuka Umekachikelu, MSP - Homily for 5th Sunday of Easter- May 19, 2019

THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF LOVE: The context of the Gospel is the Last Supper in John 13. John describes Jesus in this chapter as having loved his disciples “to the end” (John 13:1). There is no greater love than a man dying for his friends (cf. John 15:13). William Barclay, commenting on John 13:31-33, says that in any warfare, the greatest glory goes to the warriors who fell, not the survivors, because the dead made the greatest sacrifice. He adds that obedience is the only way a man shows that he loves, admires and trusts a leader (The Gospel of John, Vol 2, 148). This comment helps us understand today’s Gospel. Judas’ exit shows his final decision to have Jesus killed. Jesus decidedly did nothing to avert the looming catastrophe because it was the will of the Father that he died on the cross. Jesus’ acceptance to die on the cross was the greatest way he manifested his love for humanity. His act was great glorification. His act of obedience was also great glorification of the Father. There was none before Jesus who exhibited this type of vicarious suffering and death. It was therefore a new commandment of love. The type of love Jesus is asking from us for others is not eros (sexual love) because this is natural. It comes instinctively whether willed or not. It is equally not storge or philia (familial or friendly love) because it is natural that we love our parents, siblings, friends and relations, since they show affection to us. The love Jesus is asking for is agape (Christian love). This type requires our intellect and will because it is not natural. Agape is also for enemies and those repulsive to us. Jesus died for his enemies (Rom 5:8-10).

PRAYER:

O Jesus, the command to love our enemies and those repulsive to us is very demanding. Give us the grace to love as you love. Amen.

Fr Ebuka Umekachikelu, MSP - Homily Saturday, May 18, 2019

EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT IS A BLESSING: The Holy Spirit appointed Paul and Barnabas for a mission: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). This mission was not clear to them at the beginning. Being Jews, they operated initially with the Jewish mentality: The message of salvation was meant for the Jews only. This was why they preached ab initio only in the synagogues, with focus on the Jews. It was the great opposition from the Jews that opened their minds to listen more attentively to the Spirit. They then understood that their mission was mainly for the conversion of the Gentiles. The oppositions and difficulties they encountered among the Jews were blessings in disguise, both for them and the Gentiles. When they turned their attention to the Gentiles, they started experiencing greater results and more self-fulfilment in their mission. Many times in our lives, we are bound to face oppositions, failures and disappointments. These occasions should not call for throwing in the towels; rather they should be occasions of exhibiting our doggedness in God’s mission. These are occasions when God reveals to us better ways of achieving our purpose. When persecutions and difficulties set in, they come torrentially in droves. Even women, who are naturally sympathetic, were so stirred up that they became antagonistic towards Paul and Barnabas. The good news was that it was through all these abnormalities that the duo came to grips with their actual mission from God – the evangelisation of the Gentiles. For our peace of mind, Jesus exhorts us, “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, you encountered a lot of opposition during your ministry but remained undaunted. May we too share in the grace of conquering the world. Amen.

Fr Ebuka Umekachikelu, MSP - Homily Wednesday, May 15, 2019

JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: Light and darkness do not stay together. It is either one or the other. Before the coming of Jesus, the world was in spiritual darkness. His coming was the dawn of light, as Isaiah prophesied: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shinned” (Isaiah 9:2). The importance of light cannot be overemphasized. A greater part of the creation narrative in Genesis was a creation of different kinds of light. The very first thing God created was the general light that brought about a demarcation between day and night. Later on, there was the creation of the sun, the moon and the stars. Light dispels all fears but darkness is the source of fear and horror. The incarnate Jesus is a light given to the world, whom the world should follow in order to reach the Father. He affirms it: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12); “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). One who walks in the light does not stumble, but the one who walks in darkness stumbles. If we are not to stumble, we must follow Jesus’ Trinitarian instructions. People, who do evil, do not want their deeds to come into light; they prefer darkness (John 3:20-21). This is why Jesus says: “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).  As alter Christi, we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

PRAYER:

O Jesus, the Light, scatter the darkness of our souls and illumine us with your light of truth, so that we may always walk in your ways. Amen.