Sermon: Padre Umoh on 5th Sunday of Easter, Year A

Sermon for 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2023)

By Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh

1. Today is the 5th Sunday of Easter
2. We shall base our reflection on the 1st reading of today, from Acts Chapter 6: 1-7, which I consider provides very practical insights into the workings of the Church which are necessary for proper organisation of a parish community.
3. The passage starts by saying: “About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing”. We need to note that growth in any community, comes with its many challenges. The bigger a community is, the greater the challenges. We must bear this very much in mind and be proactive in managing a growing community or a large community.
4. As a result of the growing number in the community, we saw the problem that emanated: we are told that “the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked.”
5. The Hellenist referred to here are the non-Jews who converted to Christianity. That accusation suggests something like marginalisation by the dominant group, those who considered themselves as the original owners of the religion; the pure breeds, acting against the “foreigners”.
6. If we see these things among us today, let us remember it was there even among the early Christians. The Church does not joke with history; therefore, we need to be sensitive and aware of these possibilities in order to be proactive in ensuring that we avoid them as much as possible.
7. Did we also observe the point of the issue that was raised? What caused the problem? It was the uneven distribution of food. We know the practice among the early Christians was that everyone contributed what they had to the community while those placed in charge, had the task to distribute to everyone. We still find this uneven distribution of resources in our parish communities even today. It is not uncommon to hear people complain after an event in our parishes: “dem no give us food ooo….dem dey look eye share the food. Na dem sabi sef…. Committee members don pack the whole food give them family and friends.” We surely still hear things like that in our parish communities, too often and unfortunately.
8. While some communities try to be conscious of such concerns, it is also true that such attitude is displayed with flagrant disregard to a sense of fairness and justice by some people who seem to have hijacked the parish apparatus, and control everything like a personal estate.
9. We need to pay attention to what the Apostles did when they heard the complaint of the Hellenist: the passage says, “So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them.” This was one of the first synods in a way, and one may even describe it as a synod for Synodality, because a full meeting of the disciples was called, and not just limited to the Apostles.
10. The implications from here include: 1. Problems are not strange to the Church and as long as the Church is made of human beings, it cannot be immune to problems. 2. The response of the Apostles point the way to Church leaders that problems need to be addressed promptly and dispassionately before they consume the community. 3. The Church has its internal system of solving its problems.
11. Going further, we read what the Apostles said: ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom;
12. This was an inclusive process. The people were involved in the process of choosing their ministers, though they did not have the final say. That was reserved to the Apostles.
13. This was what gave birth to ministries in the Church. Necessity gives birth to ministries because every ministry must be targeted towards service in the Church, rather than just a mere multiplication of positions. Since ministries aid the mission, they cannot thrive without a sense of collaboration and the principle of subsidiarity, both of which must go hand-in-hand.
14. Hence, the apostles said: “we will hand over this duty to them”. Leaders in the Church must learn how to delegate. Then, if duties are to be handed over to persons by way of ministries, that implies that we must be ready to train our ministers as collaborators. Our catechists, choristers, and all liturgical ministers must be trained. Our lay leaders must also be trained and have certain basic qualifications. It is always a disaster when people who have almost no knowledge of the Church’s teachings and history occupy positions in the Church. Such persons end up leading the people in the manner of the world according to his/her ways and not the way of Christ!
15. Remember the basic qualification: you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; It was because of this transparency, guided by the Holy Spirit, the whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
16. Doing things right may not remove all problems and agitations in the community, because there are always those who are simply difficult, but it at least guarantees enough peace and cohesion for those who love God.“
17. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
18. One point vividly highlighted in this whole passage is the overwhelming importance of effective communication in the Church and for any community, whether small or big. There can be no successful leadership without effective communication. The church has always emphasised this, knowing that there can be no Church without communication.
19. Effective communication entails dialogue, listening, respect for other’s opinion, and desire for communion.
20. These are all what we saw in the passage of the first reading today. There is no room for arrogance, pride, tyranny in good leadership. Good leadership must always seek to build communion.
21. As a result of this great communication process, scripture says:
22. The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.”
23. If we want to build a truly Christian community, we need to pay attention to this pastoral and spirit-based procedure.
24. NEXT WEEK WE START OUR COMMUNICATIONS WEEK, AS DIRECTED BY OUR CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN NIGERIA. FROM SUNDAY 14 TO SUNDAY 21 MAY 2021. IT IS THE SECOND EDITION. IT IS MEANT TO RUN IN ALL OUR 4365 PARISHES IN ALL THE 58 DIOCESES IN NIGERIA.
25. THE COMMUNICATIONS WEEK, ENDORSED BY THE VATICAN, IS A VERY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CLERGY, ESPECIALLY PRIESTS, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORMATION OF THE LAITY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY DUTIES. AN UNFORMED LAITY IS A GREAT DANGER AND A DESERVICE TO THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
26. LAGOS AB PRACTICES SERIOUS FORMATION OF LAITY. CERTIFICATE.
27. The laity too should seek formation by participating actively in the programme and every programme that helps in their formation.
28. Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth, and re-inkindle in us the fire of your love.