DAILY HOMILIES #apostles

Today’s Solemnity also challenges us to be the best version of ourselves as we strive to follow Christ’s footsteps on earth. Peter and Paul have long since passed away, but their legacies continue to shine. Our time on earth is relatively short, but our impact can last for eternity. As to why these two saints are celebrated together, the church wishes to teach us a lesson: Being a leader does not make you higher (or superior) than your followers.

When you are terrified, open your mouth and start singing praises. Be like Paul and Silas, who could sing from prison and the glory of God manifested mightily. The chains were broken, and all the prisoners were set free. Faced with threats on every side from many who wanted his downfall, Jeremiah prays: “O Lord of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause.”

The Holy Spirit is everything to us. The Holy Spirit is our Life. He is the breath of God in the life of a Christian. Therefore, as we celebrate the Coming of the Holy Spirit today, let us incline ourselves more readily to His mighty working in our lives. If we are good Christians and bear fruit for God, keeping His Commandments means we have the Holy Spirit in us.

When the apostles were arrested, God was silent. God allowed the jailers to secure the prison doors because He wanted to prove that no chain, padlock, piece of metal, wood, bronze or any created object could stop the Gospel. Even those who never heard the Gospel heard that the apostles were imprisoned but found in the temple preaching. In other words, throwing the apostles in prison further helped to spread the Gospel.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus illustrates why God’s Words do not work for some persons. The seeds sown had the potential to grow, but they needed the soil’s cooperation. Jesus did not work many miracles in his hometown because many did not believe. Instead of changing the seed, we should change the soil, that is, we must believe more.

One of the unique characteristics of the sycamore tree is its enormous roots, which can extend as far as sixty feet around the tree, making it an almost impossible task to uproot. Moreover, Jesus added that you could ask this tree to be planted in the sea, and it would obey you, which is another impossibility, given that a tree of that nature does not grow in the sea. In other words, Jesus is saying that with faith as little as a mustard seed, we can do the impossible.

Be poor in spirit; do not be haughty, rude or arrogant. Be eager for salvation. Do not simply gloss over evil in the world. Do not be indifferent to the problem of immorality, indecency and corruption. Of course, fighting evil and injustice by shining your light will create more enemies than friends for you. Jesus says we should rejoice even in our sufferings for His sake.

Jesus brought a child before the disciples and said: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, our measure of greatness in heaven will be according to our measure of our child-like humility on earth.

It is one thing to call a person your friend, but a different thing for them to recognise you as their friend. God considers us His friends, but how many of us relate to God as His true friends? In other words, how many of us are faithful to God’s commandments? How many of us love others as much as God loves us? What does it mean to love one another as God has loved us? It means that we pour ourselves out for the good of our fellow brothers and sisters. To love like God is to be a Prodigal Father ready to forgive as many as seventy-seven times seven times.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8). As a Christian, remember that you are a missionary. In other words, aim for productivity and fruitfulness. Beyond doing your job excellently, strive to win souls for God.

Indeed, God can use anybody. However, like a pencil that must be sharpened to write well, we must learn to humble ourselves to become proper instruments in God’s vineyard. Let not your pride become a stumbling block for those who seek to draw close to God.

Jesus did not say, “All those who come to gather around me are my sheep.” Instead, He says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.” These three qualities distinguish the sheep of Christ: First, the sheep must hear the voice of Christ. How often do you read the Bible and meditate on it? Secondly, when Christ says “I know them,” no one can pretend to be his sheep; you are either with Christ or with another shepherd. Thirdly, Jesus says, “They follow me,” which means they behave like me. The sheep of Christ are Christ in the world.