Homily for Thursday, Week 3 of Easter

Homily for Thursday
Week 3 of Easter

April 23, 2026
Acts 8: 26-40
John 6: 44-51
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Yesterday’s reading from Acts narrated Deacon Philip’s happy experience in Samaria.  That came about because of the violent persecution that broke out after Stephen’s martyrdom and the scattering of some of Jesus’ followers (Acts 8: 4-8).  God was bringing it about that faith in Jesus would grow on account of adversity.

The passage ended, “There was great joy in that city” (8:8), Samaria.  We can imagine also the joy in Philip’s heart as he saw the fruit of his preaching—and satisfaction and comfort, such was we’ve all experienced at various points in our teaching or other ministries.

But the Holy Spirit didn’t allow Philip to rest on his diaconal laurels.  He was ordered to move on, as we all have been ordered more than once.  The word of God doesn’t allow us to sit still.  It wants to spread, for which it needs preachers, teachers, and doers.  It demands our availability and readiness.  I’ve heard it said that obedience means availability.

In the gospels we’ve been listening to Jesus’ bread of life discourse, which up to today’s last half verse concerns Jesus’ word as food for eternal life.  Today’s passage began, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him” (John 6:44).  There, again, we meet availability:  Jesus is at the Father’s disposal, ready to be sent—sent from on high thru his incarnation, sent about Galilee and Judea to preach the Good News, eventually sent to Calvary.  And we meet in that verse also God’s action on us:  he draws us to Jesus; he leads us to Jesus—if we allow him, if we’re ready, if we’re available to the Word.

In sum, Philip, Jesus, and we all move on at the Father’s direction.  Even here—you’ve been sent here for some purpose of God, I’ve been sent to you by my superior (quite willingly), and Greg and Jim will be told soon enuf, “Get up and head south (or north or east or west) on the road that goes down” (Acts 8:26) from New Rochelle to somewhere God has planned.  Philip found himself on a desert road.  Perhaps for some of you St. Joseph’s Residence seems like a desert.  Philip found an opportunity to bring someone to Jesus.  It may be so also for you.

When we let the Holy Spirit direct us, blessing follows.