JESUS’ LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.

HOMILY OF TUESDAY 18TH OF MAY, 2021
SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER YEAR B
R1:- Acts 20:17-27
PS:- 68:10-11,20-21
Accl:- John 14-16
Gosp:- John 17:1-11

THEME: JESUS’ LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
Many of the successful people today got the pass to fortune as result of recommendation from others. If we like, we call it connection; “man know man”.

At times, to help us manage our pride, God can put the key to our success in another person’s hand. Unfortunately, many people die wretched as a result of their refusal to bend. They raised their heads too high that they could not see their helpers.

However, it is hard or unjust to recommend someone who has not meet up with our expectations. We often lobby for those who are not qualified. We jump queue, using people at the helm of affairs to reach our goals at the detriment of others who are more qualified than us.

The truth stands that, God uses man to bless man, but not in unjust way.

Unfortunately, we can be insensitive to the fact that we are mere instrument to lift other people. We may be too full of ourselves that we recommend people based on our personal ego desires or expectations, forgetting that others have their own purpose to fulfil in life.

We see in our today’s gospel how Jesus recommended his followers to his Father in heaven. He was fair to them and to himself. He recommended them on merit. He recommended them based on their obedience to the Father’s will which he has communicated to them.

He said, ” I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were and you gave them to me, and they have kept your work……I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours, all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

Though he had roles to play in their lives, Jesus did not see them as his own personal property. “for they are yours. All mine are yours”

This recommendation is simply a fruit of obedience. We cannot be a guarantor to whom we do not know, unless with the note from someone we know or trust. We cannot recommend a rebel, and put our integrity or estate in danger.

This is a clarion call to be obedient and faithful. At times, in the quest to be successful, we throw off the passion to be faithful. God wants us to be faithful and not successful. Faithful people cannot but be successful. Though how we measure success can be funny at times, he is successful, who is faithful to his unique life goal.

May God’s will be done in our lives and may we never be lost in Jesus recommendation to his heavenly Father. May our obedience to God be total that we gain free access to the divine Father. Amen.