First Reading (Acts 12.24-13.5a)
Reading the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, the word of the Lord grew and spread more and more. Barnabas and Saul, having completed their ministry, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, called Mark.
In the Church of Antioch, there were prophets and doctors. They were: Barnabas, Simeon, called the Black, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who was raised together with Herod, and Saul. One day, while they were celebrating the liturgy in honor of the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: “Separate for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them.”
Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and let them go. Sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived in Salamis, they began to proclaim the Word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
They had John as their helper.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 12,44-50)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time: Jesus exclaimed in a loud voice: “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me, but in him who sent me. Whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I came into the world as a light, so that everyone who believe in me, do not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not judge him, because I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words already has it. your judge: the word that I have spoken will judge you in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father, who sent me, he is the one who commanded me what I should say and speak. commandment is eternal life. Therefore, what I say, I say as the Father spoke to me.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I would like to start our reflection with a question: Have you ever felt lost amidst the chaos of the world? Perhaps you have experienced moments of uncertainty, where answers seem far away and life situations seem overwhelming. In these moments, we desperately search for a light, a direction, something to guide us along the right path. And it is precisely at this point that the words of Scripture reach us, bringing light and hope to our everyday lives.
Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, presents us with a scenario of persecution and adversity. Peter, one of the pillars of the Church, is in prison, and the Christian community faces difficult times. However, the Word of God reveals to us that, even in the midst of darkness, the light of faith never goes out. The community’s fervent prayer is answered, and Peter is miraculously freed by the power of God.
This story reminds us that no matter the circumstances, God is in control. He is the author of our history and the guide of our path. Just like Peter, we are called to trust God, even in the darkest moments of our lives. He is the lighthouse that leads us through the darkness, and our faith is the anchor that keeps us firm.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us: “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me, but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me” (John 12:44-45). These powerful words invite us to see beyond Jesus’ physical appearance and recognize the divine presence in him. When we open our hearts to Christ, we also open ourselves to the Father, who sent him to reveal his love and will to us.
But how can we see beyond the physical appearance of Jesus? How can we experience His presence in our daily lives? This is where faith becomes essential. Faith is not just an intellectual belief, but a total surrender of ourselves to God. It is the trust that even when we cannot clearly see the path in front of us, God is with us, walking alongside us.
To illustrate this, allow me to share a story with you. Once, a man was walking on a deserted beach after a storm. The beach was full of starfish that had been washed onto the sand by the high tide. The man began to pick up one starfish at a time and throw them back into the sea. An observer, seeing the large number of starfish on the beach, said to the man, “Aren’t you wasting your time? You’ll never be able to save all these starfish.” The man, holding a starfish in his hands, looked at it and replied, “For that starfish, it makes all the difference.”
This story reminds us that although we may feel like our individual actions don’t make a huge difference in the world, each act of love and compassion has a significant impact on the lives of those around us. Likewise, as we surrender to God in faith, we allow his transforming presence to shine through us, touching and transforming lives around us.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are called to be the light of the world, reflecting God’s love in our daily actions. As we turn to the Scriptures, we find guidance and wisdom to face life’s challenges. We find a compass that points us in the right direction, even when the storm threatens to divert us from the path.
Therefore, I encourage you to seek God’s Word and immerse yourself in it daily. Make reading Scripture an essential part of your lives, allowing it to shape and transform your thoughts, words, and actions. Just as an athlete trains daily to achieve excellence, we too must dedicate ourselves to studying and understanding the Scriptures, so that our lives are a living reflection of God’s love.
Furthermore, just as a tree needs deep roots to sustain itself, we need to root ourselves in the Word of God. When we face times of tribulation and challenges, it is the depth of our faith that keeps us steadfast. Therefore, dedicate yourselves to studying the Bible, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and allow the Word of God to penetrate your hearts, nourishing and strengthening your faith.
Throughout this homily, I have mentioned the importance of seeing beyond the physical appearance of Jesus. But how can we do this? How can we recognize his presence in our daily lives? Allow me to illustrate this with a metaphor.
Imagine you are in a dark room, desperately searching for a key that will open the door to freedom. You feel around the walls, trying to find some clue, but all you find are obstacles and uncertainties. Then, suddenly, a light shines in the corner of the room. You approach and see a key hanging from a small hook. This key represents Jesus, the key that frees us from the chains of sin and leads us to abundant life in God.
But here’s the thing: the key is useless if you just watch it or keep it in your pocket. You need to take the key, insert it into the lock and turn it to open the door. Likewise, Jesus stands before us, offering us the key to a full and meaningful life. It is up to us to take this key and allow it to enter our lives, transforming us from the inside out.
And how can we do this? The answer is in the Gospel of John itself: “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him, because I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (John 12:47). Jesus invites us to listen to his words and keep them in our hearts. This involves not just listening passively, but acting on what we hear.
Dear brothers and sisters, do not be content with just being hearers of the Word, but be doers of it. Just as a tree is known by the fruit it produces, be known as disciples of Jesus through your loving and compassionate actions. Love your neighbors as yourself, forgive those who have hurt you, serve those in need, and share the good news of salvation in Christ.
Finally, I would like to remind all of us that we are loved unconditionally by God. No matter what mistakes we’ve made, how far we’ve strayed from the right path, or how much guilt we carry in our hearts, God’s grace is greater than all of that. He is ready to forgive us, renew us, and give us new life in his love.
Therefore, in this moment of silence, I invite each of you to open your hearts to God, to surrender to Him, and to receive His abundant grace. Allow His transformative presence to fill your lives and enable them to live in accordance with His will.
Dear brothers and sisters, may the light of faith shine brightly in our lives and may we be living witnesses of God’s love and grace. May our actions speak louder than our words and may the world be transformed through our testimonies of faith. May we root ourselves in the Word of God, surrender to Him in complete trust and allow His presence to dwell within us.
May God bless you and guide you on your journey of faith. Amen.
