DAILY- HOMILY

01 May 2016  

6th SUNDAY OF EASTER

Cycle C.     White. 

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Rev 21:10–14, 22-23 / Jn 14:23– 29

From the 1st Reading: Acts 15: 1, 28 - 29     

Some persons who had come from Judea and Antioch were teaching the brothers in this way, "Unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."  

"We, with the Holy Spirit, have decided not to put any other burden on you except what is necessary:  You are to abstain from blood from the meat of strangled animals and from prohibited marriages. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.  Farewell."

From the 2nd Reading: Rev 21:22 -23

I saw no temple in the city for the Lord God, Master of the universe, and the Lamb are themselves its temple.  The city has no need of the light of the sun or the moon, since God's Glory is its light and the Lamb is its lamp.

From the Gospel Reading: Jn 14:23 – 28

Jesus answered, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and make a room in his home.  But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words, and these words that you hear are not mine but the Father's who sent me.

"I told you all this while I was still with you.  From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.

"Peace be with you; I give you my peace.  Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you.  Do not be troubled; do not be afraid.  You heard me say: 'I am going away, but I am coming to you.'  If you loved me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

Reflection

For the Jewish people the Temple in Jerusalem is much more significant than our cathedrals, churches or chapels are to us.  For them the Temple is where they have the special presence of God. This presence is confirmed and strengthened in the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple, the sign of the covenant relationship with God.  The Temple signifies their unique relationship with God. The Temple is at the very heart of the identity of the people of Israel.

The incarnation of the Son of God changed this special relationship with the Jewish people. By becoming man, by being "made flesh" and "pitching his tent among us" (Jn 1: 14), the Word established a new kind of temple, his very self and humanity among us.  This is confirmed in the second reading from Revelation where "I saw no temple in the city for the Lord God, Master of the universe, and the Lamb are themselves its temple." (Rev 21: 22)

Our relationships with God will no longer be with repeated offerings and sacrifices but through our faith and following of the Lamb of God.  The Son of God has become our direct and immediate contact and intercessor with God such that if we abide in him and follow his commands, we will find salvation.

When we abide with God, God abides with us. We ourselves become God's temple: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and make a room in his home. " Jn 14: 23) 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

ORDINATION

     Fr. Benjamin Y. Sim, SJ

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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