Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter

Sometimes, a single sentence changes everything. Jesus says to his disciples, “If you know me, you know my Father too.” It’s a simple line—but it opens a door to something deep. Jesus is saying: if you want to know what God is like, look at me. Listen to my voice. Watch how I treat people. See the way I love, the way I forgive, the way I stand with the poor. That’s who God is.

Philip asks Jesus, “Show us the Father,” and Jesus gently answers, “Have I been with you all this time, and you still don’t know me?” It’s a question for us too. Do we really know Jesus? Not just in theory—but in our daily lives?

In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas are preaching in Antioch. At first, people are excited. But when the crowds grow, some become jealous and start to oppose them. Instead of giving up, Paul and Barnabas say, “We are turning to the Gentiles.” They realise the Good News is for everyone, not just a few. The Holy Spirit keeps moving—reaching the people on the margins.

This is what mission looks like. It’s not always smooth. It faces rejection and resistance. But it keeps going, because God’s love is for all people.

That’s true for us here in Zambia. The Gospel is meant for everyone—rich and poor, young and old, those with power and those without. In a country where many still struggle for dignity—for food, work, education—our faith must lead us to action. It must lead us to speak up, to serve, to include. As Pope Francis said, “A faith that does not transform our lives is not real faith.”

Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.” That means we are called to live like him—to love, to heal, to welcome, to build peace and justice. That may feel like a big task. But Jesus also says, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.” He promises to be with us. We’re not alone.

St Ignatius teaches us to pray with our lives—to notice where God is calling us today. So let’s ask ourselves:

• Where do I see Jesus in my life right now?
• Who are the people being left out—and how can I turn towards them?
• What good thing has God done for me—and how can I share it with others?

Let’s not just talk about Jesus. Let’s live in a way that others can see him in us.

Amen.

I acknowledge that this homily was drafted by myself and refined using AI assistance and automatic built-in word processing tools for grammar, style, and clarity. The final content remains the responsibility of the author.