TOPIC: THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND PEACE
6C EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 14:23-29, MAY
22, 2022
1. STORY
John, a diamond expert, received a
small box from a farmer containing nine small diamonds of various colors. The
one that caught his attention was a red one, no bigger than a cherry, which is
very rare and very expensive. He could not believe that such a valuable diamond
was kept in a box on a shelf on a farm. After carefully studying it, he
estimated that it was worth over 7 million Hong Kong dollars. It sold for that
price at an auction. When John informed the farmer by phone of his good
fortune, the farmer thanked him and hung up. The farmer had no idea of the
worth of his small red diamond. We too are often not aware of the great gifts
of the Spirit and peace.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN 14:23-29
A. THE FATHER WILL SEND THE SPIRIT.
The first gift God the Father will send us is the
Spirit.
i) He will teach us new things.
ii) He will remind us of all that Jesus had taught
us.
B. PEACE I LEAVE YOU.
Jesus leaves us his peace. Peace means “Do not let
your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit will teach us many new things as
well as reminding us of what Jesus has taught us.
i) He will teach us that Jesus is always with us to
help us as we walk on the road of life. We are never alone.
ii) He will teach us what is right and what is
wrong and what we should do and what we should not do in this very complicated
world.
iii) He will teach us that, at the end of the road
of life, death is but a change and not the end. The end will be to enjoy
eternal life and happiness with God in heaven.
B. THE GIFT OF PEACE.
Peace means to live without being troubled or
afraid. This is possible because Jesus lives with us.
i) Jesus is the Good Shepherd who
guides and protects us as we move along the road of life. We have no fear of
going down the wrong path or being attacked by the devil.
ii) Jesus is the Bread of Life who provides us with
spiritual strength through the Eucharist. We have no fear of being spiritually
hungry and weak as we go forward in life.
iii) Jesus is the Light of the World who keeps us
from walking in the dark. He helps us to see the path so that we will not
stumble or fall.
4. CONCLUSION
i) John was amazed that the farmer had
no idea of the worth of the red diamond. We may also be not aware of the precious
gifts of the Spirit and the peace that we have been given.
ii) God will give us the Spirit who will teach us
new things and remind us of what Jesus has taught us. We have the gift of peace
which makes it possible for us to live without being troubled or afraid. We
thank Jesus for helping us know and appreciate the precious gifts of the Spirit
and the peace we have received. We ask Jesus to help us to follow the guidance
of the Spirit and to live a life of peace.
