Reading 1 Acts 5:17-26
The high priest rose up and all his companions,
that is, the party of the Sadducees,
and, filled with jealousy,
laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,
“Go and take your place in the temple area,
and tell the people everything about this life.”
When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.
When the high priest and his companions arrived,
they convened the Sanhedrin,
the full senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison,
so they came back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.
Then someone came in and reported to them,
“The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area
and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them,
but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
- (7a)The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Jn 3:16
- Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R.Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 3:16-21
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
In today’s gospel, we have the summary of the Christian message, the synopsis of the good news. The greatest being (God), has the greatest feeling (Love), for the greatest population (the world), that he performed the greatest act (gave), the greatest gift (his only begotten son), that whosoever believes (greatest invitation), may not perish (greatest evil) but have everlasting life (greatest blessing).
The Christian message is a message of hope, a message of love. It is also a message that challenges and demands commitment. It demands that we believe in Jesus, surrender to his Lordship and embrace the cross of discipleship.
It is exactly because of this that many find it difficult to accept, many accept it partially and some even try to resist it. The first reading of today tells us how the powerful Senate of Israel tried in vain to resist the spread of this message of love.
Is the drama not interesting? The Jewish authority convoked a powerful assembly; Pharisees and Chief priests travelled from afar, all sat with their Torah in front of them ready to sentence these Jesus’ men. When it was time to bring in the accused. They found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but the prisoners are no more. The power of the resurrection at work again. Guess where the disciples are? The men are back to the temple preaching. Can you imagine the frustration disappointment of the Jewish authority? It is their turn to be locked in the prison of fear and frustration.
So many things to reflect today but let’s keep it simple.
No power on earth can stop the work of God; no powerful force on earth can thwart the purpose of God for your life. By the power of the resurrection, no prison is secure enough to hold you down. There are just two prisons you should not lock yourself in, doubt and fear, remember the words of the Psalmist, the Lord is my light and my help, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the stronghold of my life before whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27) and the words of St Paul “…if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).
Let us keep this message in mind as we begin this new month in honour of our Blessed Mother.
As we celebrate workers’ day today, let us keep in mind that God is looking after us, He loves us and we have nothing to fear
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami on May1, 2019.