DAILY- HOMILY

June 3, 2019 – MONDAY, 7TH Week of Easter
Sts. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
Memorial.
Red.

Acts 19: 1 – 8 / Jn 16: 29 - 33

The first canonized martyrs of black Africa, canonized at the third session of Vatican Council II, Sts. Charles Lwanga, master of the court pages, and  21 young companions were martyred in Uganda by King Mwanga, a fierce persecutor of the Christian religion, on 26 May and 03 June 1886 and 27 January 1887, for their opposition to his homosexual and corrupt court.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Acts 19: 1 – 7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, whom he asked, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered, "We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit." Paul then said, "What kind of baptism have you received?" And they answered, "The baptism of John."

Paul then explained, "John's baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is Jesus." Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came down upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve  of them in all.

GOSPEL READING: Jn 16: 29 – 33
The disciples said to Jesus, "Now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled language! Now we see that you know all things, even before we question you. Because of this we believe you come from God."

Jesus answered them, "You say that you believe! The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

"I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace. You will have trouble in the world; but, courage! I have overcome the world."

REFLECTION
We are taught that we receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized, in the sacrament of initiation into God's life and Church.. We are also taught that in the sacrament to prepare us for adulthood, Confirmation, we receive more fully the Holy Spirit to enable us to lead responsible adult lives as followers of Christ.

In the Gospel reading after the Last Supper, before Jesus was arrested and endured his passion and death, Jesus prepares his apostles for his leaving and return to the Father. He assured them that, when he leaves, they will not be left orphans as the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will come to remind them all the things Jesus taught them.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul explains all this to the Church at Ephesus. Paul then baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus and laid his hands on them "and the Holy Spirit came down upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy."

We pray that the same Spirit who came down on the followers in Ephesus and whom we received at our baptism and confirmation may remain with us with similar power.

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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