FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER HOMILY with FR. JOHN MGBEAHURUIKE, SMMM
Theme: TOWARDS RESOLVING OUR CONFLICTS
(5th Sunday of Easter Year
Acts 6:1-7 / Ps.3 3 / 1Pt. 2:4-9 / Jn. 14:1-12)
The Church is the family of God here on earth. It is made up of special people. St. Peter, in the second reading of today, stresses the SPECIALTY of these people. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, the Holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own wonderful light"(1Pt.2:9). To proclaim the acts of God, the Church needs to be united. As one of the marks of the Church, UNITY is a necessity. Unity is defined as a state of being in agreement and working together; or a state of being united or joined as a whole.
Unity is a very strong force that enables a group to function well for growth and progress. At Unity, we are better empowered and strengthened, and will be heard. At Unity, Jesus is with us. He listens to, and answers our prayers (cf.Mtt. 18:19-20). At Unity, we become Trinitarian for God is a community. At Unity, we feel good and pleasant (Ps. 133). It is the wish of Jesus that the Church remains united. This is why Jesus, THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GOD THE FATHER, prays for the UNITY and PROTECTION of the Church(cf. Jn.17:11, 15,), which is His body(1Cor.12:27).
The UNITY of Christians is a big THREAT to the devil and his kingdom. This is because in and with UNITY, the Church does well the works Jesus has sent her to do. Jesus wishes that His sheep will be united, so that there will be ONE FLOCK and ONE SHEPHERD, at last (of.Jn.10:16).
But the enemy, the devil is not happy that the Church, the body of Christ is at peace. He devises different means either to weaken or destroy the unity of the Christians. Conflicts and disagreements are among the means used by the devil to divide and scatter Christians. However, this can only work when we, Christians, fail to handle our conflicts well. If we fail to resolve our differences amicably.
Today we praise the apostles for their wisdom and ingenuity in resolving the quarrel between the Greek-speaking Jews(the Grecians) and the native Jews. For the Grecians, their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of funds. When the apostles heard the complaint, they acted quickly and wisely to address the matter. They called for a meeting thereby bringing the two parties together for dialogue. Besides, they gave the parties the opportunity to exercise their fundamental rights of choosing their leaders without any external interference. The apostles only suggested how to resolve the matter. Success was achieved at last because of the just, free, wise, and loving approach the apostles adopted. The problem was solved completely.
By so doing, the apostles, like Jesus, left us an example to follow in resolving our differences. HOW DO WE RESOLVE OUR DIFFERENCES? Below are some steps.
LESSONS
(1) Acknowledgement of our differences. We have to tell ourselves the truth in order to be free (cf.Jn.12:32).
(2) Making known or reporting our problems to the appropriate quarters, when we can no longer handle them(cf.Mtt.18:15-17). Let us not die in silence with our problems.
(3) Being fast in addressing our conflicts will do us more good than harm. When small issues are not attended to in time, they will accumulate and grow into big problems.
(4) Use of dialogue in settling our differences is better(cf.Mtt. 18:15f). This brings the dissenting parties together for listening.
(5) As a facilitator, you are expected to help the worrying parties to resolve their conflict. This is what the apostles did. No imposition of any kind at all. Also the whole process have to be founded in love and mercy. Condemnation is never the aim.
(6) Conflict or Disagreement in itself is not evil. In fact, it should be seen as part of life, bearing in mind that man is not a perfect being.
Thus, we should be positive in addressing our conflicts.
(7) Respect is a necessity.
(8) Prayers are a need.
(9) Wisdom is important.
(10) Humility helps.
We must point out here that it was this particular quarrel that gave birth to the office of deacon in the Church.
Finally, we need Jesus to succeed in our works as Christians. He is our CORNERSTONE. Without Him we will stumble and fall. We will achieve nothing (cf. Jn.15:5). Let us always believe and trust in Him for He is the TRUE WAY TO THE FATHER IN WHOM WE SHALL HAVE LIFE IN ITS ABUNDANCE.
May the Lord give us the grace to resolve our differences and be united; so that our missionary works will continue to bear good fruits to the glory of God and for our salvation. Amen.
Always pray and work for the UNITY OF THE CHURCH. It is a threat to the devil and his kingdom.
God bless your family. Happy Sunday!
16:33
BREAKING NEWS
POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS ARCHBISHOP JUDE OKOLO...
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo (60) to the role of apostolic nuncio to Ireland, the first African priest to ever hold the diplomatic role in Ireland.The news was welcomed by Archbishop of Armagh
Eamon Martin, “I warmly welcome the appointment by his Holiness Pope
Francis of Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo as Apostolic Nuncio to
Ireland, and I wish him many blessings in his new role”.The position of Apostolic Nuncio is the papacy’s diplomatic representative in Ireland.
“Archbishop Okolo’s rich
experience in the diplomatic service of the Holy See means that he
brings many gifts to bear on his new mission in Ireland” Archbishop Martin said.
Archbishop Okolo will take up the role during the summer, and replaces the outgoing apostolic nuncio to Ireland Charles Brown, who finished his term in March and will now move to Albania to take up a new diplomatic post.
He has formerly served as an apostolic nuncio to the Central African Republic and Chad in 2008, and then as the Pope’s diplomatic representative to the Dominican Republic in 2013.
Archbishop Okolo speaks English, French, Italian, Igbo, Spanish and German.
Before becoming a apostolic
nuncio, Jude Thaddeus Okolo had worked in the diplomatic service of the
Holy See, where he was stationed in Sri Lanka, before going on to be a pontifical representative in Hati, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Australia and the Antillean Islands.
