Homily: May 15, 2023, Monday of the sixth week of Easter (Quantity)

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After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation…

In the previous readings, we saw that after Pentecost, the preaching of the apostles converted thousands each time. But this time in Macedonia, after preaching to a group of women, only one woman named Lydia, and her household, received baptism.

In the following chapters, we see the same trend. As the apostles preached throughout the Greek cities, the conversions were sporadic. However, they did not give up, they continued to preach the good news tirelessly and with the same fervor.

Last year, I was asked to take a class for family faith formation, to kick-off the program for the year. So I made extra effort to prepare some nice slides and an inspiring message. When the day came, only two families showed up. There was some miscommunication. I was disappointed and conducted the session casually, without using the slides. In my heart I felt let down and lost my enthusiasm to inspire.

That is quite natural and understandable right?

But recently, when a friend, who is a catechist in another country, shared with me how one day only two little students showed up in her class. Instead of feeling disappointed, she said she felt so joyful the Lord sent those two little ones so that they could have a cosy and more engaging session, so that she could give more attention to the two kids than if the full class had turned up. So she presented the lesson as prepared with even more enthusiasm and joy. 

I was ashamed as I reflected with regret on my poor response at that kick-off session last year.

Didn’t Jesus' encounter with one Samaritan woman lead to the conversion of her whole village?

After Jesus converted Zacchaeus, didn’t many more tax collectors come to accept His teachings too?

Oftentimes, we measure success by counting numbers, quantity, attendance even for church events, retreats, and other gatherings. Forgetting that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt 18:20)

Jesus is present, isn’t that all that really matters?

Let us learn from Jesus and from the apostles, to preach the good news of God's love to one and all. Whoever the Lord sends to us, whether one or many, He is the One who will work wonders through our little efforts. He is present in every encounter engaged in His name. Sometimes He will move a crowd, and some days He may just want to touch one heart.

Let us never stop proclaiming the word, even when no one comes, let us preach to the sky and the sea, to the trees and the breeze. May the good news be in our hearts, on our lips and in our lives all the time. Amen.


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