5^th Sunday of Easter, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: You Are a Chosen Race — Let Your Hearts Not Be Troubled

Readings: Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Pt 2: 4-9; Jn. 14: 1-12

The readings of the fifth Sunday of Easter are rich with lessons for both our spiritual and physical nourishment. They tell us not to let our hearts be troubled because we are a chosen race, a holy nation, and God’s own people. They also warn us of what can happen when we fail to care for the physical needs of members of our Christian community.

In the second reading, St Peter beautifully defined the identity of Christians as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s own people chosen to declare his wonderful deeds.’ These qualities highlight our participation in the life and priesthood of Christ through the sacraments we have received. They also demand that Christians live a distinct kind of life in society — a life that enables them to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. As St Paul teaches, we must not model our lives according to the standards of this world.

The first reading shows us two major threats to the unity of the Church and harmony among Christians: discrimination and insensitivity to the material needs of the faithful. In this reading, the Greek-speaking Christians complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food by the Hebrew-speaking Christians.

The swift and wise way the apostles handled this problem offers important lessons for our Christian communities today.

First, our communities must be places of love, equality, fairness, and harmony. We must reject every sentiment, attitude, or behaviour that divides us.

Second, the reading teaches us that if we fail to attend to the social and material needs of our members, we risk hindering the work of God. We must not ignore the genuine concerns of our brothers and sisters. We must be close to every member of our community, know their daily struggles, and help them find solutions. The person who sits beside you every Sunday may be carrying burdens that God wants to ease through you. Hence, make effort to look beyond the smiling face. Both the spiritual and material needs of our members matter.

Third, while caring for material needs, we must not allow the spiritual dimension of our mission to suffer. Sometimes, in our efforts to organize social activities or respond to material concerns, we unintentionally neglect prayer, worship, and spiritual growth. St Peter reminds us today that we must maintain a healthy balance between the spiritual and the material — and that the spiritual must always receive our primary attention.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to speak directly to each of us. He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” Dear friends, we live in a world where political tensions, social instability, family struggles, and personal challenges have left many people broken, discouraged, and overwhelmed. The disciples felt the same way when they realized Jesus was leaving them and that they would face the harsh realities of their society without His physical presence.

I do not know the particular difficulties you are facing. It may be a crisis in your marriage, instability in your relationships, worries about your children, health challenges, problems at work, or economic hardship. Whatever your situation, the Church wants these words of Jesus to echo in your heart: “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Why? Because Jesus is the way — the One who guides you through your worries without letting you fall; He is the way out of your troubles and the way that will also lead you to the Father. He is the truth — the One who gives you the courage to face every situation with hope. He is the life — the One whose life in you cannot be destroyed by the difficulties of this world.

Let not your hearts be troubled, because God has chosen you to be signs and bearers of His victory in the world. And the one whom God has chosen cannot be defeated by trials and difficulties.

Jesus challenges us to believe in Him and in the power of His works. Peter, in the second reading, urges us to come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight. Let us open our hearts to Him in today’s Mass and entrust our lives to His care.

Peace be with you, and may you have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 5^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

(John 14:1-12)

Jesus addresses His disciples not to be troubled in the following words:  "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me..." Jesus told His disciples these when they were afraid of losing Him, because He told them He was going away.

In our situation today it seems that God is going away, it looks like God is far removed from us. We are surrounded by a whole lot of life-threatening realities. We are left in the state of "Chi boo anu ozo" (One day one trouble), the news all over is not encouraging, the Government is more confused, the voice of prayer seem to be silenced, there's no work, no payment, no food, no money. There is no joy in the world. Many people no longer see reasons to live. Jesus' word encourages us not to give up but to look up, not to be fainthearted but to lift up our hearts. This is an exercise done in faith, hope and charity. This is seeing what the ordinary eye doesn't see, believing what hopelessness discourages us from believing, loving and caring with the little in our possession.

Let us put away fear and move on as children of God. Let us keep following Jesus the Way, Truth and Life. He will not disappoint us. He will not abandon us. Are you still troubled? By family problems, economic situation, sleeplessness, persecutions? Are you worried about how to send those children back to school ? Are you weeping because of the leadership of this country and your State? Do not be troubled? Just believe in God, do the part in your hands, God will do the rest. Just speak to your troubled heart: "Obim dere duu atula ujo, Obim dere duu, Chukwu maara ihe oma O ga emerem o, Obim dere duu. (Fear not my soul, God will arrest thy worries). Hear these words of St Teresa of Avila:

"Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing frighten you

All things are passing away

God never changes

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing.

God alone suffices."

It shall be well. Yes!

Oge ihe siri gi ike,

Oge uru juru gi obi

Nsogbu eju ebe nile

Nwannem ka obi sie gi ike

 

Lele Jesu, rio Jesu

Chekwube Jesu, Oga- adi mma.

 

Hard Facts of life

The hard truth we have to know about life is that there must be troubles; small or great. Winds must blow. The sea must rage. But there's something that makes a whole lot of difference: My Choice. Choose to live above the troubled sea. Choose to swim across the raging storm. The seat of these choices is in the heart. Do not allow the troubles in the world, on the outside to determine your heart's joy and peace. The troubles are not worth dying for. It is not easy to live this way but Divine grace will make it possible.

 

Speak out your troubles

Telling the disciples not to allow their hearts to be troubled means that there is a better state for which the heart is made. The heart should be an abode of Christ the prince of peace and not of the crisis that steals your peace.

Therefore, when the troubles sneak in with their accompanying headaches, heartbreaks, sleeplessness and worries. Speak out. Pray! Share it. Problem shared is problem solved. You have a shoulder you can always cry on. Lay it on Jesus' shoulders, come to him with your burden, He knows how to make it light. Do not allow it to sap you, to weigh you down and increase your blood pressure.

 

Address Yourself

You know what you want. You are the one at each point in life to tell yourself: "I refuse to be troubled ". O yes! You can do this by always being positive. Be strong and tell yourself: "I know that I can make, I know that I can stand, no matter what may come my way".

 

Hold on to the Way, Truth and Life

In times of trouble, the question is always: where do I go from here? Which way? What is the next line of action? Jesus answers:  "I am the Way". "I Am" is the name of God as revealed to Moses. God is the Way, Him alone can make a way where there seem to be no way, where troubles seem to have closed.

In a world filled with lies from the government, from religious groups, world organizations, family and friends Jesus says: "I am the Truth". The truth we need to know about ourselves, about our world and what best to do comes from God.

In a world where life has lost its worth and is now and again threatened by diseases natural and man-made, by wars and terrorism Jesus maintains: "I am Life". We commit our lives into his hands for Him to sustain and uphold it. He gives His life in place of ours. May we accept and value the precious gift of human life in others and ourselves. May God trouble the troubles that trouble us and keep us safe from all dangers through Christ our Lord.

Happy Sunday (5th Sunday of Easter)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh