EASTER VI [A] : Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, I Pt 3:15-18, Jn 14:15-21.

Our history shows that there are many schools of thought that sprouted up, flourished a little while, and sank into oblivion with the death of the master. There were many religious movements that exerted influence for a short while, disappeared forever with the extinct of their leader. Many kingdoms were established, but they failed to survive after the death of the founding king. Many empires were built but they disintegrated with the extinct of the emperor. One of the greatest examples is that of Alexander, the Great. Alexander established a massive empire. It extended to the boundaries of the then known world. But the empire was short lived. After his death it was divided and lost its prominence.

In the whole of history there is only one empire that grew from strength to strength after the physical disappearance of its leader. That is the empire Jesus. Jesus founded his church and entrusted it to a group of insignificant men. They were insignificant in every sense of the word. They were not educated. They were not well versed in martial art. They were not wealthy. They had nothing of worldly glory to boast of.

During His life time, Jesus himself had not crossed the boundaries of Judea. He has not sent envoys to the kings and emperors. He has not set up diplomatic ties with the East and the West. He had no business treatise with any nation. Instead, He entrusted his mission to a group of insignificant men.  It was up to them to take the message of Jesus to the ends of the world. In order to enable them for that mission Jesus had promised a helper, the Paraclete.

The Holy Spirit did all these in the life of the Apostles. When the Apostles were bound and set before the court of law, the Holy Spirit was with them putting the right answer in their mouth. He spoke through them.  In difficult situations, where the Apostles were not able to take some crucial decisions, He was with them serving them with the right decisions.  When they were discouraged, and depressed He was there to revitalize them. Thus the helper, promised by Jesus was with them always.

According to today's Responsorial Psalm (Ps 66), the Spirit causes believers in every age and place to experience personally the same marvelous acts of Divine liberation. 

Today’s first and second readings show us how the Spirit worked in the everyday activities of Jesus’ first followers. The First reading describes the success of Philip, the Deacon, among the despised Samaritans. Owing to the vigorous persecution which began in Jerusalem after the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the disciples had been dispersed. Philip turned the dispersal into an opportunity to preach the Gospel message by taking it to Samaria.

Philip gives us a very valuable message. Every situation in our life is planned by God. It is up to us to see the hand of God in it and make it into an opportunity to do something good. As the Apostles took the message to the ends of the world, it is our responsibility to take the message of Jesus to our contemporaries.

Just as Philip brought many people to Baptism, we can help others to prepare for the reception of the sacraments of Christian Initiation. We will begin our next year’s RCIA classes in September. We need to do our part in leading people to Christ.

James 5:20 says, if one of you bring back a wandering brother to truth you will save his soul and you will cover a multitude of your sins. Several parishes in the diocese has started a movement to bring back people who fell way from the practice of the faith. I would like to encourage you to bring at least one person to faith this year, and lead him or her to RCIA. I am going to reward you besides your spiritual benefit. I will take you out for a dinner or will give you $50.00 dollars for bringing one family to RCIA. Some people gave me some gifts for the Jubilee. I would like to use that for this purpose. If we are ashamed to share our faith, Jesus will be ashamed of us too before the Father. Even if you get a rude or negative reply from someone for asking them to join the faith, take it as a reward. And feel proud about that because you are doing it for Jesus. If we really appreciate our faith we cannot but to share it. If we refuse to share it, that means we really don’t appreciate our faith but just happened to be a Christian and just that. So, decide to challenge your own faith by asking someone or encourage someone to come to join the Church. It’s exciting to accompany people as they discover the beauty of the faith for the first time, just as the first disciples did.

The Spirit of God was with the Apostles to help them. Now the Spirit of God is with us to help us. Recognize it and open our hearts to the Spirit of God, and allow it to work through us.