Homily: April 20, 2023, Thursday of the Second Week of Easter ( Ration)

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 "He does not ration his gift of the Spirit."

Have you ever been to a ration store?

From google, the meaning of ‘ration’ is ‘a fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to each person during a time of shortage, as in wartime’.

When I was little, my papa used to go to the government ration store once a month. Each family would receive rice, sugar, kerosene, and mung dal, which is a type of small beans. They would receive a portion according to the number of members in the household.

My family was large with 11 members, so we were always allocated more. Papa would take my brother and me along to help him carry those items home. We would balance them on our heads as we walk home happily. The portions given were just enough, nothing extra, so we would always moderate our use so that we do not run out of stock.

In places with abundance, without shortage, there is no need for rationing. There would be more than enough for everyone.

So, here in St. John’s Gospel we heard, "God does not ration his gift of the spirit" because our God is a God of abundance, generosity, graciousness.

In the first reading, we read that the apostles were warned by the authorities not to preach in Jesus' name, but they obeyed God, not men and went on to fill the whole Jerusalem with teachings in the name of Jesus.

More than 2000 years later, Jesus' teachings have travelled round the world. Christianity is in every corner of the world. How fortunate we are to be a follower of Jesus. We have the privilege to enjoy the abundance of the spirit, and the gifts of life and joy that come with it.

As we prepare for Pentecost, let us pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us. Let us pray for the courage preach his teachings freely and unreservedly to all whom we encounter, let us not ration or limit the gifts from God, to be shared graciously with others. Amen.


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