Fr Daniele's Daily Homily - Friday 24th April

24th April 2020

One of the main messages we can understand from today's readings is that God is powerful and has everything in his hands, much more than we can see or perceive if we only superficially look at our world. 

The wise doctor of the law Gamaliel, talking about the strength of Christianity, said: "If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God." So, we can be sure that God fulfills his plans, no matter what obstacles and opposition may be in the way.

In the middle of this pandemic and quarantine, we don't have to lose the security that the Lord has everything in his hands and that he's realising greater plans that we can understand right now. In other difficulties of our life too, both personal or with others, we can be sure that God has always the last say. But, as Gamaliel also warns us, it's convenient for us to not fight against God, but to collaborate with God's plans, so that they may take place much more easily.

In the Gospel we also see how Jesus, even before performing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, "knew exactly what he was going to do." Even though we heard about this miracle many times, today we can let ourselves be surprised by how all this happened. Think about how many people are 5000! Jesus took care of all these people and provided them with the food they needed in an unexplainable way. Doesn't he want to do the same with each one of us every day? Even though we don't understand exactly what is happening and we can't control all our life, especially in this moment, God provides us with what we need every day. So many saints show us how, just when everything seemed to be lost, the Lord miraculously intervened and gave them what they needed for themselves and their people. If we give everything we have, as the apostles did, and we love with all our heart, we will also see miracles in our lives. Through everything, and especially through trials, God wants us to grow in love. This is the most important plan he has for each one of us.

First reading
Acts 5:34-42

They were glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name

One member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a doctor of the Law and respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the apostles taken outside for a time. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, ‘Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people. There was Theudas who became notorious not so long ago. He claimed to be someone important, and he even collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them. And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters; but he got killed too, and all his followers dispersed. What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.’
His advice was accepted; and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.
They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted.


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or
Alleluia.

The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or
Alleluia.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or
Alleluia.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or
Alleluia.


Gospel
John 6:1-15
The feeding of the five thousand

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. 

The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.