Homily Notes for the Second Sunday of Easter
As you
know, today is still Easter day in the sacred liturgy. The Church celebrates that one day
for a whole week and for the liturgy of the Word, the Gospel texts are taken
from all four gospel writers and their accounts of resurrection of Jesus.
Following the close of this day, the Easter season will continue for fifty days
– ending with the celebration of the Ascension and Pentecost.
As a preparation
for Pentecost, the first reading of the liturgy of the word will be taken from the
book of the Acts of Apostles, and continue reading through the whole book. Acts of
Apostles is the second part of Luke’s gospel. It takes us through the unfolding
history of the first generation of the Church. This is our story – it is who we
are – where we came from – how we got here and why we have gathered in this way to celebrate the
sacred mysteries.
There are also a
couple other things that make this weekend special. It is Divine Mercy Sunday,
established by pope John Paul ll on this day in the year 2000. And on this very Sunday, Pope John XXlll and
Pope John Paul ll will be canonized, Saints of the Church.
I find
all this quite significant for us at this time in the history of the Church. It
is not uncommon to hear it suggested that the Church is in decline and no
longer relevant; that perhaps the Church might even disappear, braking into
fragmented pieces, replaced by rational thought and technology.
It is
because we are surrounded by such a cloud of doubt, that this time in Church is
so important for us, and why we must make reading the Acts of the Apostles a central
part of our personal faith life, just as the Church makes it so in the liturgy of the
Word.
When we
turn to Acts and the story of Pentecost, we quickly see that our Church was not
made up by the design of a group of people, a work of human enterprise. It
comes from God, and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ followers were not
great revolutionaries, rather they were a group of frightened and confused and very
ordinary people. Then comes Pentecost Day and all is changed in a dramatic moment.
On that
very first day, Pentecost day, Acts shows us clearly, that the Church comes under
attack. The joyful and exuberant faith of these Spirit-filled people is written off as nothing
more than a product of too much alcohol, they are a bunch of drunks. From that
first day up to today, the Church is constantly attacked and discredited. This is
our constant history.
Acts
also shows us how the members of this new Church will be, “a-work-in-progress”,
made up of frail humans being, sinners now saved, learning and growing under
the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.
So here
we are today, the latest additions to this long history. I strongly encourage
you to take up your scriptures and read and study the book of the Acts of the
Apostles. May these Easter days be as powerful days of healing and building of
your faith as they were for that first generation of believers we celebrate through these Easter days.
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