DAILY HOMILIES #evangelisation

What Happened At Antioch? Firstly, “The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number that believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). This teaches us that the success of evangelisation depends on God. The believers who took the Gospel to Antioch were not exceptional (their names are not even mentioned). When news of the massive number of converts reached the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to verify the report and encourage the believers.

The Holy Spirit is our Counsellor. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a Counsellor. The word ‘Counsellor’ can refer to a lawyer who defends a client in trouble or a therapist who advises one experiencing psychological trauma (or other related difficulties). In other words, the Holy Spirit as Counsellor is a solid helper for us as we battle to survive in a world that is not ours.

An African proverb says that if a child washes his hands very well, he will be invited to sit at the table and eat with the elders. In other words, if we are humble, regardless of our size and status, we will be granted access to high places. Humility will put people under us, like the child leading the lion, the leopard, the wolf, and the lamb.