May 12, 2024 - Seventh Sunday of Easter
May you continue to experience the Love of GOD abiding in you, and through it, may you experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Love is the essence of life. It begins with GOD, since GOD is love. It is best manifested in the life, ministry, prayers, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are invited to abide in GOD’s love and then share it with others so they, too, can experience the totality of being loved by GOD and remaining in that love. Let us continue to pray for the further outpouring of the Holy Spirit so we will be empowered to be vessels of GOD’s love reaching out to others.
Link to the Reflection for Ascension Sunday:
May 12, 2024 - Ascension Sunday
May you continue to experience the Love of GOD abiding in you, and through it, may you experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Love is the essence of life. It begins with GOD, since GOD is love. It is best manifested in the life, ministry, prayers, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are invited to abide in GOD’s love and then share it with others so they, too, can experience the totality of being loved by GOD and remaining in that love. Let us continue to pray for the further outpouring of the Holy Spirit so we will be empowered to be vessels of GOD’s love reaching out to others.
Link to the Reflection for Ascension Sunday:
May 12, 2024 - Ascension Sunday
Readings can be obtained from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051224-Sunday.cfm
Saint Pancras: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/may-12-saint-pancras-martyr/
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus:
https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/may-12-saints-nereus-and-achilleus-martyrs/
Readings: Acts 1: 15-17, 20a, 20c-26; Psalm 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20;
1 John 4: 11-16 John 17: 11b-19
Just a note: In Acts 1: 1-11, it says that Jesus remained with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection. On the fortieth day, Jesus ascended into heaven. Some communities celebrate Jesus’ ascension today (on the fortieth day after Easter - replacing Seventh Sunday of Easter). Others celebrated His ascension last Thursday. The link to Seventh Sunday of Easter is above.
We come to the last week of the Easter season, the holiest season of the year. The focus of Easter has been the growth of the early Church and the need to be united with the Risen Lord Jesus and with each other so that the GOoD News can be proclaimed to all the world. Our First Reading is appropriate, even if it is not part of the sequence of the other Sundays of Easter in speaking about the spread of the Church after Pentecost. It takes place after the Ascension and before Pentecost as the apostles seek to replace Judas. The Responsorial also is appropriate as we have just celebrated Jesus’ ascension and therefore His return to His place of honor on the heavenly throne. The selection from the First Letter of John reminds us of the importance of remaining in our relationship with GOD and living it out by loving one another. The Gospel is part of Jesus’ Prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper and His lifting them up so that GOD the Abba-Father can protect them after Jesus leaves them and returns to heaven.
After Jesus’ ascension, as they await the coming of the Holy Spirit, the apostles decide to fill Judas’ place in “The Twelve.” Twelve is a biblical number that implies fullness (e.g. 12 sons of Jacob/Israel, the 12 tribes). They want this position to come from those who have been part of the disciples since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (starting at His baptism by John the
Baptist). They select two individuals and pray that they would be led by the Holy Spirit in their choice. They cast lots so that, as Proverbs 16: 33 mentions, “from the LORD comes every
decision.”
The psalm refers to the LORD sitting on the divine throne in heaven. Christians have seen this as the place to which Jesus ascended. Jesus is giving His rightful position from where He will ultimately rule the Heavenly Realm.
John in his First Letter speaks about our need to be loving individuals. As John has said in another part of this letter, GOD is love. Thus, when we love others, GOD remains in us. The Johannine works (Gospel of John, the three letters, and the Book of Revelation) use the Greek word, μενο (meno) over fifty times (more than all the rest of the Christian Scriptures [New Testament] combined). The word is often translated as “remain” or “abide.” It speaks of close relationship between individuals. Jesus and His Abba remain and abide in each other. Jesus also abides and remains and is present to His disciples as they love one another and proclaim the GOoD News in action and words.
The Gospel today is Jesus’ prayer (to His Abba) for His disciples. He prays for all His followers (including us) that we might be one, just as He and His Abba are one. His disciples will face trying times and be rejected by people of the world who seek only earthly values. Jesus lifts up His followers so that they may be in the world but not of the world, just as He came into the world, but was not of the world.
Just as the apostles and disciples sensed the need to carry on the ministry
of Jesus and looked forward to empowerment by the Holy Spirit, we must also join with Jesus and pray that we might further His work of spreading the GOoD News. Yet it takes more than just prayer. When Jesus lifted up His concern for His followers on Holy Thursday, He knew He would be giving up His life the next day in the ultimate example of love. He, however, wanted His disciples to always remain and abide in Him, just as He and His Abba were (and are) always abiding and remaining with each other. As He mentions in the previous chapters of the Last Supper Discourse, Jesus was aware that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Paraclete, was going to be with those who were going to carry on His work. Jesus’ ministry would continue because His disciples would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep proclaiming the GOoD News.
I feel a certain anxiety (both positive and challenging) as I (together with all fellow believers) am being called to be an apostle (one who is sent), and evangelist (proclaimer of GOoD News), and disciple (disciplined learner) of Jesus. It is exciting to realize that Jesus has called us (me and you) to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. GOD has chosen us to work in the world, without giving into the world. It is also a bit scary to think of all GOD wants me to do and what may happen if I proclaim the Gospel, and even use words if necessary. My life is to be a visible manifestation of GOD’s love for every individual. There may be some people who will never
experience the love of GOD until I reach out to them in a caring way. This is true for all of us who have been invited to abide and remain in the Lord Jesus and let Him remain and abide in us.
I recall from thirty years of working in Stephen Ministry and doing workshops for this caring ministry, that it is challenging, but it is a way GOD blesses those to whom we care. And although GOD works through us and allows those for whom we care to experience GOD’s presence, we are blessed in the very acts of loving service. We sense the abiding love of GOD as we serve those whom GOD has entrusted to our care. And it is only because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who came upon the apostles on Pentecost, that we are able to go out to the world and make GOD’s love tangible.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, loving Abba-Father. Through the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Your Son, Jesus, You have shown us what it means to abide and remain in You and You in us. He was always proclaiming Your love for us by His actions and words. We pray that You and Jesus will send Your Holy Spirit upon all Your faithful people so that we can continue the work of Jesus and share the GOoD News, first by our actions, and, as needed, by our words. Help us to live out our relationship with You in a way that invites others to abide in You. We make this prayer in and through Your Son, Jesus, our Master-Teacher and Lord, Who prayed for us on the night before He died and Who, together with Your Holy Spirit, intercedes for us and empowers us to be faithful disciples. To You be all glory, honor, and praise, together with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Song of the Day: Bless the Lord O My Soul - Matt Redman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQqqwRqCgAw
Lord, Who At Thy First Eucharist Did Pray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Vsi0VwYwo
Video of the Day: Ss. Nereus and Achilleus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHjQt8fYKxc
Saint Pancras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsqeh1oOqzM
Reflection on John 17: https://reflectionsbybob.weebly.com/reflection-of-john-17.html
© rjk, 12-09-22
Saint Pancras: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/may-12-saint-pancras-martyr/
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus:
https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/may-12-saints-nereus-and-achilleus-martyrs/
Readings: Acts 1: 15-17, 20a, 20c-26; Psalm 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20;
1 John 4: 11-16 John 17: 11b-19
Just a note: In Acts 1: 1-11, it says that Jesus remained with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection. On the fortieth day, Jesus ascended into heaven. Some communities celebrate Jesus’ ascension today (on the fortieth day after Easter - replacing Seventh Sunday of Easter). Others celebrated His ascension last Thursday. The link to Seventh Sunday of Easter is above.
We come to the last week of the Easter season, the holiest season of the year. The focus of Easter has been the growth of the early Church and the need to be united with the Risen Lord Jesus and with each other so that the GOoD News can be proclaimed to all the world. Our First Reading is appropriate, even if it is not part of the sequence of the other Sundays of Easter in speaking about the spread of the Church after Pentecost. It takes place after the Ascension and before Pentecost as the apostles seek to replace Judas. The Responsorial also is appropriate as we have just celebrated Jesus’ ascension and therefore His return to His place of honor on the heavenly throne. The selection from the First Letter of John reminds us of the importance of remaining in our relationship with GOD and living it out by loving one another. The Gospel is part of Jesus’ Prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper and His lifting them up so that GOD the Abba-Father can protect them after Jesus leaves them and returns to heaven.
After Jesus’ ascension, as they await the coming of the Holy Spirit, the apostles decide to fill Judas’ place in “The Twelve.” Twelve is a biblical number that implies fullness (e.g. 12 sons of Jacob/Israel, the 12 tribes). They want this position to come from those who have been part of the disciples since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (starting at His baptism by John the
Baptist). They select two individuals and pray that they would be led by the Holy Spirit in their choice. They cast lots so that, as Proverbs 16: 33 mentions, “from the LORD comes every
decision.”
The psalm refers to the LORD sitting on the divine throne in heaven. Christians have seen this as the place to which Jesus ascended. Jesus is giving His rightful position from where He will ultimately rule the Heavenly Realm.
John in his First Letter speaks about our need to be loving individuals. As John has said in another part of this letter, GOD is love. Thus, when we love others, GOD remains in us. The Johannine works (Gospel of John, the three letters, and the Book of Revelation) use the Greek word, μενο (meno) over fifty times (more than all the rest of the Christian Scriptures [New Testament] combined). The word is often translated as “remain” or “abide.” It speaks of close relationship between individuals. Jesus and His Abba remain and abide in each other. Jesus also abides and remains and is present to His disciples as they love one another and proclaim the GOoD News in action and words.
The Gospel today is Jesus’ prayer (to His Abba) for His disciples. He prays for all His followers (including us) that we might be one, just as He and His Abba are one. His disciples will face trying times and be rejected by people of the world who seek only earthly values. Jesus lifts up His followers so that they may be in the world but not of the world, just as He came into the world, but was not of the world.
Just as the apostles and disciples sensed the need to carry on the ministry
of Jesus and looked forward to empowerment by the Holy Spirit, we must also join with Jesus and pray that we might further His work of spreading the GOoD News. Yet it takes more than just prayer. When Jesus lifted up His concern for His followers on Holy Thursday, He knew He would be giving up His life the next day in the ultimate example of love. He, however, wanted His disciples to always remain and abide in Him, just as He and His Abba were (and are) always abiding and remaining with each other. As He mentions in the previous chapters of the Last Supper Discourse, Jesus was aware that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Paraclete, was going to be with those who were going to carry on His work. Jesus’ ministry would continue because His disciples would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep proclaiming the GOoD News.
I feel a certain anxiety (both positive and challenging) as I (together with all fellow believers) am being called to be an apostle (one who is sent), and evangelist (proclaimer of GOoD News), and disciple (disciplined learner) of Jesus. It is exciting to realize that Jesus has called us (me and you) to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. GOD has chosen us to work in the world, without giving into the world. It is also a bit scary to think of all GOD wants me to do and what may happen if I proclaim the Gospel, and even use words if necessary. My life is to be a visible manifestation of GOD’s love for every individual. There may be some people who will never
experience the love of GOD until I reach out to them in a caring way. This is true for all of us who have been invited to abide and remain in the Lord Jesus and let Him remain and abide in us.
I recall from thirty years of working in Stephen Ministry and doing workshops for this caring ministry, that it is challenging, but it is a way GOD blesses those to whom we care. And although GOD works through us and allows those for whom we care to experience GOD’s presence, we are blessed in the very acts of loving service. We sense the abiding love of GOD as we serve those whom GOD has entrusted to our care. And it is only because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who came upon the apostles on Pentecost, that we are able to go out to the world and make GOD’s love tangible.
- The personal question/action for today: Do I sense the Lord Jesus praying for me so that I can go out and serve the people in my world without becoming worldly? How have I experienced GOD abiding and remaining in me and me in GOD? What has been the greatest experience I have had of feeling the Holy Spirit empowering me to reach out and to proclaim the GOoD News? What else might the Lord Jesus be asking of me at this point in my life?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, loving Abba-Father. Through the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Your Son, Jesus, You have shown us what it means to abide and remain in You and You in us. He was always proclaiming Your love for us by His actions and words. We pray that You and Jesus will send Your Holy Spirit upon all Your faithful people so that we can continue the work of Jesus and share the GOoD News, first by our actions, and, as needed, by our words. Help us to live out our relationship with You in a way that invites others to abide in You. We make this prayer in and through Your Son, Jesus, our Master-Teacher and Lord, Who prayed for us on the night before He died and Who, together with Your Holy Spirit, intercedes for us and empowers us to be faithful disciples. To You be all glory, honor, and praise, together with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Song of the Day: Bless the Lord O My Soul - Matt Redman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQqqwRqCgAw
Lord, Who At Thy First Eucharist Did Pray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Vsi0VwYwo
Video of the Day: Ss. Nereus and Achilleus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHjQt8fYKxc
Saint Pancras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsqeh1oOqzM
Reflection on John 17: https://reflectionsbybob.weebly.com/reflection-of-john-17.html
© rjk, 12-09-22