WE ARE NEVER ALONE.

 

Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Acts 8:5-8,14-17, 1 Peter 3:15-18, John 14:15-21

 

Losing someone who is very close to us can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences we can go through. Whether it is through separation, break up or death, the realities of such a loss can be overwhelming and can affect us emotionally, physically and psychologically. The disciples of Jesus experienced all of these especially with the death of Jesus. After Jesus’ death, the disciples were grief-stricken and devastated. They had been with Jesus for years, formed a close bond with him, and had placed all their hopes in him as the Messiah, only to see him secretly arrested, hastily tried, and gruesomely executed. They were devastated by his death and felt lost and uncertain about what the future held for them.

However, the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples helped to change their perspective and offered them comfort, hope, and reassurance. When Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection, they were able to see that Jesus was indeed alive, and that his message and teachings were still relevant and important. This gave them the courage and strength they needed to carry on Jesus’ mission and spread his message throughout the world as we saw in the life of the early Christian communities.

The disciples were still recovering from the devastating pain of separation caused by the death of Jesus when in today’s gospel reading, Jesus makes yet another prediction about his physical separation from his disciples. He says that in a short while, the world will no longer see him. But one comforting thing about this separation is that while the world will no longer see him, the disciples will see him (John 14:19). He promises the disciples that although he will physically leave them, he will not leave them desolate or orphaned (John 14:19). He promises to ask his Father to send to the disciples another Advocate or Helper who will be with them forever. That Advocate is the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth who is with them and in them (John 14:16-18). Jesus was aware of the challenges and difficulties that his disciples would face in their mission and assured them that he is always with them, even in his physical absence.

Today, Jesus is also making these same promises to us. Just as he promised the disciples that they would not be orphaned, we too can trust in the promise of the Holy Spirit to be with us always. We are never alone. Even in the most challenging moments of our life, we can trust that Jesus is with us, guiding us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our source of strength and comfort, and we can rely on him to sustain us in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, who guides us in the truth and reminds us of all that Jesus has taught us (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit is not just any ordinary spirit, but the Spirit of God, who dwells within us and empowers us to live the Christian life of keeping the commandments of God. Through the Holy Spirit, we are united with Jesus and with one another, forming a community of faith that transcends all boundaries and divisions as read in the first reading (Acts 8:5-17). May the Holy Spirit, the Advocate continue to be our companion through life. Amen.