Homily: May 12, 2025, Monday of the fourth week of Easter (Open to the Spirit)

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"You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.” 

Why was it such a big issue for the Apostles to be with uncircumcised people?

During our First Communion retreat recently, we acted out the Last Supper scene. I took the role of Jesus, and some of the First Communicants sat with me at the table pretending to be the disciples.

When I broke the bread and held up the chalice of grape juice, I repeated the words of Jesus: “This is my Body… This is my Blood.” And then passed the bread and drink around for all to consume.

One little girl, sitting beside me, didn’t drink the grape juice. After the session, I asked her, “Did you enjoy it?” She quickly replied, “Not at all! I don’t drink blood.”

I tried to explain to her that it wasn’t blood, it was juice, and we were just acting.

But she insisted, “Well, I heard you say it was blood!”

She was right, those were Jesus’ words, and she believed. I tried to explain again that it’s only at Mass that the wine becomes the Precious Blood of Jesus, but at our play, it was just a symbolic re-enactment. She still wasn’t convinced.

But just yesterday, I saw her receive her First Holy Communion with great reverence, and she did receive the Precious Blood of Christ too!

Her parents might have explained the mystery to her. At that moment, I realized how much we care about what we consume. Today, there are many diets, food trends, and lifestyle choices.

The Jewish people too had very strict dietary laws and traditions, lasting over 2,000 years. Many of these laws were rooted in ancient health practices, over time they became religious obligations. One of which, Jews did not eat with non-Jews because they were uncircumcised people, thus considered unclean.

So when Peter entered the house of Gentiles and ate with them, it shocked the Jewish Christians. That was a major violation of their custom and belief.

And Peter explained to them that he had received a vision from God, leading him to understand that God was opening the way of salvation to the Gentiles. What’s remarkable was the people’s response. They accepted his explanation and declared, “God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.”

Now imagine if our Pope today introduced a major change in the Church and said that he had done so because of a vision. Would everyone accept it?

Probably not so easily, not without criticisms, arguments, resistance and opposition.

Unlike the early Christians who were so open to the working of the Holy Spirit, they were willing and ready to listen to authority and change themselves accordingly.

The little girl who initially refused the juice at the retreat, later accepted the true Body and Blood of Jesus, I am sure it was because someone explained it to her with love and clarity. Someone else succeeded where I failed.

What about us?

Do we listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, and are open to see things from God’s perspective, which is ruled by justice, love and mercy?

Or are we quick to criticize and judge from our human logic, like how Peter was stubborn and stiff-necked at first, closed to the wonderful things God might be doing beyond our understanding and imagination?

Today, let us pray for a heart that is open to God’s will, open to His voice, and open to His Spirit.

Amen.


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