Friday May 03, 2024
Homily for 6th Sunday of Easter 2024: Russell Brand was baptised.
Homily
6th Sunday of Easter
5th May 2024
This week, the actor and comedian, Russell Brand was baptised. From his YouTube channel, he seems just as surprised as many others, because they have seen him over the years being quite Hedonistic in his lifestyle. He has been, in the terms of the Bible, a fornicator, he has abused drugs, he has followed other gods. But in recent years, through interviews he has conducted and published on YouTube he has been influenced by the Holy Spirit. Like many of us, he has been challenged by the world.
He had found his heart empty and was trying to fill it with what the world had to offer. He became rich and famous, but still felt empty. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol but even they did not sooth the pain. He made many blunders, and at the height of his career was sent into a wheel spin. Many saw his as an excentric celebrity, but his mind was curious. He saw injustices and questioned much that is going on in the world.
Even then, a decade or so ago, he was mocked on mainstream television, with news presenters ridiculing him for what he was suggesting. Not taking him seriously. In more recent years, he has found himself on a spiritual journey. He settled down and found love with a partner, his Catholic wife and have had children.
Because of the questions he was asking, he was pursued, and attempts have been made to destroy him. Allegations have been made against him. Yet, even when news channels have attempted to bring him down, those who knew him defended him against those who were trying to destroy him.
Russel Brand is not claiming to be a saint, by no means. He is fully aware of his sins and admits to them. He knows he has a long journey to go. He was surprised, as many others are, who have been touched by the Holy Spirit and have been converted. He knows he will continue to make mistakes, but then don’t we all.
In the Acts of the Apostle, Luke tells us how Peter was greeted by Cornelius who had rushed up to him and knelt beside him in humility. Peter told Cornelius to stand, as he was only a man like Cornelius. When Peter addressed the people who had gathered, he expressed his realisation that God has no favourites. If anyone fears God, or perhaps we should say respects God, and accepts him by doing what is right, God will love them, both men and women. Before the people with Cornelius were even baptised, the Holy Spirit filled them, which surprised Peter as he saw pagans receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Peter saw no reason why these people should not be baptised with water in the name of Jesus who they saw was sent by God the Father.
In John’s first letter he tells us that it is only through loving one another that we can know God. Jesus came into this world so that we could all have life. God loves us so much that he was willing to have his Son, Jesus, sacrificed so we could be cleansed of our sins.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us we did not choose him, but that he chose us to be his friend and to teach us everything he learnt from God the Father. Jesus commissions everyone of us to go out and bear every lasting fruit. We are to proclaim the Gospel, sharing it with others and building up the church, not through force but by loving those we encounter no matter who they are or where they come from. Jesus commands us to love one another.
Russell Brand felt the Holy Spirit within him after being cleansed with the waters of baptism. God has placed an indelible mark upon him, claiming him as one of his own, through the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean he won’t fall as he struggles with the temptations, thrown at him by the devil. Remember, as soon as Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, Jesus was then led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and nights, Jesus fasted. The devil tried to persuade him to turn stones into bread, to throw himself off the parapet of the Temple so the angels could save him, and to offer him all the kingdoms and splendours of the world if only he would worship him, BUT Jesus refused all these temptations. Then the devil gave up, realising he didn’t have the power to corrupt Jesus.
Russell Brand is but a mere man, who knows is frailties. Like most of us he is trying to navigate a corrupted world, to support a family and to face his own demons, and he has asked Jesus to come into his life to help him. Like the prodigal son, he is not asking for the inheritance but just simply to be given a save place. He has found this in Jesus, and like Paul he is prepared to proclaim to Gospel, and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.
Amen.
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