6th Sunday of Easter, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
Theme: How to defend the Christian faith in a hostile environment.
Readings: Acts 8:5–8,14–17; 1 Pet3:15–18; Jn 14:15–21
The gospel reading of today continues the last discourse of Jesus with his disciples. In this discourse, Jesus gave his disciples his last will and testament. It is always the duty of a good father to gather his children around him when he is drawing close to his last days and give them his last will and wish. The last sayings of a father are not taken for granted by the children. In a like manner, one of the last things that Christ told his disciples and us is to keep his commandments as a sign of love for him. He said: “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” And he said again: “he who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”
Indeed, there is no other better way to demonstrate our love for Christ than to keep his commandments. But then, the big question or challenge remains how to demonstrate this love for Christ in a world that is hostile to the values of Christ, in a world that organizes itself as if God does not exist and sees those living out the teachings of Christ as people who are swimming against the current of the time. For example, Christ taught his disciples love and cherish peace; how are they to achieve this peace in a world that often sows the seed of hatred among people. Christ asked Christians to be holy and pure; how are they to live out this kind of life in an environment where immorality is frequently proposed and imposed, and where things that defile the body are cherished and promoted, and where perverted lifestyles are promoted as a rights by governments. Christ asked his disciples to be truthful and to shun bribery; what will Christians do when they are employed in companies or offices that feed on bribery and corruption, and where telling of lies are seen as being diplomatic. Christ also asked Christians to make disciples for him; how are they to do this in a world that mocks preachers, a world where preachers are seen as archaic people.
It is in the light of the difficulties associated with living according to the teachings of Christ in a hostile world that St Peter gave the wonderful admonitions we read in the second reading of today. At that time Peter was in prison in Rome. From his prison cell, he wrote to all Christians all over the Roman empire who were facing different degrees of suffering, hardship and persecution in the hands of the Roman government, telling them how best to carry out the mandate of Christ in an empire that was hostile to them.
What St. Peter told the early Christians is of utmost importance to present day Christians who have found themselves in a world that has embraced secularism and religious indifference. He said to them: “Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.”
Dear friends, there are many ways to account for the faith received from Christ. I want to touch on two of them. The first is by knowing the bible and the teachings of the church, especially the catechisms. It is obvious that no one can defend what he does not know. Many ideologies in the society put the faith of the church to the test, yet many Christians are too lazy to read the word of God and learn their catechism. St Peter challenges us to equip ourselves with the knowledge of what we believe, so that we can defend our faith whenever we are confronted by those who ridicule our religion. I have some questions to ask you. When non-believers ask you why you say the rosary, why you go to confession, why you prayer to the Virgin Mary and the saints and for the dead, what do you answer? Not being grounded in these aspects of the practices of the church has made some people to leave the church when they were questioned by those who are against them (the practices of the church). So, get yourself abreast with teachings about the faith and practices of the church.
The Second is by being ready to stand against the wave of evil wherever you are. Many Christians are afraid of witnessing to Christ because they don’t want to be hated by the world. Some Christians prefer to keep quiet while some others compromise. But we must know that bad things multiplies in the world when good men keep silent in the face of evil. If you find yourself where justice is denied or perverted, where truth is denied, or where immoral life is enthroned or promoted, what do you do? Do you keep quiet? Do you compromise? Christians should never keep quiet nor compromise in any environment that denies the teaching of Christ, because such environment is calling them to give account of their faith. Let not the fear being insulted or subjected to suffering, the fear of death, of denial of rights and privileges, of loss of friends lead you to deny your faith or keep mute in the face of evil. Christ promised that whoever defends him before men, he will defend before his father in heaven (Mt 10: 32–33). We should always remember that the worst suffering is separation from God.
Furthermore, St Peter gave a second step on how to defend the faith. He said: “Yet do it with gentleness and reverence; keep your conscience clear, so that those who abuse your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” In this second step, St Peter was calling on Christians not to allow their lifestyles to contradict their faith. He was asking Christians to make their lives shining examples of what they preach to the world. It is not only by words of mouth that Christians are to witness to Christ or defend their faith in a hostile environment, Christians are also to live lives that promote or reflect what they are preaching. The life of every Christian should reflect gentleness, humility, peace, love, justice, charity, patience, forbearance, and other Christian virtues. In fact, the live of every Christian should be a bible to those who don’t read the bible. If the way live your life before your husbands, wives, children, colleagues and friends who are unbelievers contradict your Christians faith, then, you cannot convince nor convert unbelievers. Therefore, Living lifestyles that reflect the teachings and virtues of Christ is the best defence Christians can give to their faith before husbands, wives, children, colleagues and friends who are unbelievers.
Happy Sunday and remain blessed
Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima