Homily: Third Thursday of Easter
Third Thursday of Easter (Acts 8:26-40) “Follow MY Lead”
God never stops pursuing people. At times we think we need to lead others to faith, but sometimes it is not up to us. We might think if we just work a little harder to win a loved one over to Christ it will happen. Quite often people in pastoral ministry will think that if they just try one more thing their parish will be more vibrant. This kind of thinking can lead to a lot of discouragement. I heard of a spiritual director who told a counselee once, “There is one savior of the world, and it is not you.”
We read about Philip in the Acts of the Apostles today. He was a person who was very zealous for the Lord, but he was also a person who realized that God was the one who was in charge.
As Philip tries to convert the Ethiopian Eunuch he is attune to the Lord’s voice. God tells him through an angel to head down the road to Gaza. The Spirit tells Philip to run up to the chariot the Eunuch was riding in so that he can start a conversation with him.
God prompts the Eunuch to be open to Philip and his teaching about the Gospel. In the end the Eunuch is baptized on the spot. All of this takes place because the Spirit is acting in the two men’s lives. Phillip did not have to do all the evangelization on his own. God inspired Phillip and Phillip acted.
I have found as a priest that most often it is not my initiative that brings a person to want to inquire about joining the church. Most often, if I can just respond when an inquirer calls or stops by, and good things happen. If I just extend myself a little bit quite often it leads to a new convert.
I remember cleaning up after Mass one Sunday and a disheveled man walked up the main aisle. He asked to talk to me. I did not know whether I wanted to speak to the man or not. But I did. I found out the man’s name was Jeff and he wanted to join the church. We started a relationship and Jeff joined the church. Jeff had health problems and died a few years later. I had his funeral. Following the Spirit helped me to meet Jeff’s spiritual needs. I was privileged to walk with him and help him towards his heavenly reward. The Spirit moved Jeff. I just needed to encourage and to guide him.
Reflection Questions:
- Is winning converts to the faith about finding the right program? Is it about listening to the Spirit?
- Would the Eunuch in the Acts of the Apostle have been baptized without Philip? Are there people that I know that are curious about the faith, but need someone to show them the way?
Dear Parishioners,
We are finalizing our new WEB page design. It will not be long until we launch it. Hopefully, it will allow us to serve our parishioners better. Sometimes I wonder if my daily posts are worth the time I invest. But then the unexpected happens.
I was at the nursing home today and we were having Mass. I was speaking to one of the residents and she asked me about something that I had written yesterday. I was surprised. Most nursing home patients are not online, but she was.
This was the second time this week that this has happened. God likes to surprise me just like Philip was surprised.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for our troubled world.
Fr. Mark