Gospel Homily for Sixth Sunday of Easter (2025)

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Does God have favorites? If He does, then how do we become one? Here is how. I was returning to the city on a two-lane road. I was on the right side, and the guy in front of me apparently was looking for street parking. When he saw that all the spaces had been taken, he stopped his car, put on his hazards, got out of the car, and ran into one of the stores. It is as if he were saying, “Use the other lane.”

Meanwhile, I was stuck behind him. I tried to get around him by entering the left lane, but there was a steady stream of cars due to the fact that a two-lane road was now a one-lane road. I sat there and waited for an opportunity. After five minutes, someone saw my predicament. He flashed his lights and slowed down to let me in. I was so grateful. I thought at the time: “I wish I were God for just two minutes so I could send this guy some divine goodies. I would give him the winning megabucks ticket, his favorite football team would win the Super Bowl, and he would never have back pain again.” Why not distribute my gifts among all the drivers who passed by me? Why just this guy? He did something no one else did. He stood out from everyone. If we want to be one of God’s favorites, then we have to stand out.

Moses had his back against the Red Sea when the Egyptian army was about to attack him. The Egyptians had one of the most feared armies in the ancient world. Moses did not have as much as a butter knife for defense. Not only that, but all of the Israelites had turned against him and had scolded him: “Why did you bring us out here to get killed.” There he stood alone, but to God he stood out.

Little David was standing in front of Goliath, the most experienced warrior. Goliath was protected from head to toe with armor and carried a huge sword. David had no experience, no protection, and no sword. I would not have been able to stand in his shoes. None of the other Israelites wanted to either. David stood out.

Jesus was invited to a dinner party with religious upidies when a woman walked into the all-male gathering and washed Jesus’ feet and anointed them with expensive oil. The guys were mad at the woman, “Who let this sinner in here?” But Jesus defended her, “None of you gave me water to wash my dusty, tired feet from the long travel. The woman stood out.

If we want God to favor us, we need to stand out. How do you do that? In the Gospel, Jesus tells us, “I will love you if you keep my commandments.” When Jesus tells us to do something, we can assume that it will most likely not be easy. But if we do it, we will certainly stand out.