May 15, 2024 - Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter (Opt. Mem. of St. Isidore the Farmer)
May you keep your eyes focused on your eternal destination and may that guide you as you journey to be with GOD forever.
Knowing where we are going is very helpful. Often there may be different paths to get there. We may encounter obstacles and roadblocks. Sometimes we have the assistance of others as we travel along. We are all called to be heading toward GOD (Latin: ad Deum; Spanish: a Dios; French A Dieu). Let us continue to reassure one another of our prayers and thoughts as we move toward our destination and let us joyfully say to one another, “A-Dios!”
May you keep your eyes focused on your eternal destination and may that guide you as you journey to be with GOD forever.
Knowing where we are going is very helpful. Often there may be different paths to get there. We may encounter obstacles and roadblocks. Sometimes we have the assistance of others as we travel along. We are all called to be heading toward GOD (Latin: ad Deum; Spanish: a Dios; French A Dieu). Let us continue to reassure one another of our prayers and thoughts as we move toward our destination and let us joyfully say to one another, “A-Dios!”
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051524.cfm
Saint Isidore the Farmer: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-isidore-the-farmer
Readings: Acts 20: 28-38; Psalm 68: 29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab; John 17: 11b-19
Again today, we encounter two individuals in our readings who have to say their farewells to their disciples. They realize their time with their followers is drawing to a close. They end their sessions with those who have been close to them for a rather lengthy bit of time by praying with and for them.
In the First Reading, St. Paul bids goodbye to the leaders and the people of Ephesus and Miletus. He asks the leaders to continue to watch over the flock that has been entrusted to their care. St. Paul speaks of the hardships and attacks they will experience in the days ahead, once he is gone. He reminds them, as he says, of Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” With that, he prays with them and takes leave of them.
In the Gospel (part of the Last Supper Discourse [John 13-17]), Jesus continues His final words to His followers before His death. The whole seventeenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples (which includes us). Jesus asks His Abba-Father to take care of those who have been called in Jesus’ name. He asks that those who will continue His ministry after He is gone will be made holy in the truth.
These readings, together with the experiences that I have had over the past few years, has given me cause to reflect on saying “GOoD-bye.” It is never easy to say our last words to those for whom we have cared and those with whom we have shared so much time. I have never done well at saying “GOoD-byes.” It is hard for me to realize that the relationships that I have formed are at a point that causes them to change because of death, people’s separating in distance by moves, changing jobs, retirement, or because others have chosen to do different things with their lives and thus will not be as near as they have been.
Over sixteen years ago at this time of the year, I changed my position at the school where I had worked. Although I was still at the same school, I left the classroom (at least as much as I had been doing) and switched to an office. The room that had been assigned to me for the previous 23 years was no longer my “home” away from home. The teachings of certain lessons were the last I taught. I cleaned out items which I had accumulated for nearly a quarter of a century. It caused me to reflect on the end of a certain aspect of my life and a beginning of another. I have also had to say my final greetings, or I am in the process of saying “GOoD-bye” to faculty and friends who have died recently or who are moving on to other jobs or to retirement. I am no longer working for the school, since I retired during the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Seven years ago, I had to say “GOoD-bye” to one of my fellow teachers who had been at the school for all the years I had been there. He was the last one who had worked at the school before I joined the staff.
The only thing certain and unchanging in life is not the proverbial death and taxes, but the love of GOD poured out in Christ Jesus. Yes, death (and to a certain extent, taxes) are also a fixed part of life, but the love of GOD goes beyond death and taxes. St. Augustine once remarked, “our souls are restless, until they rest in You, O GOD.” To put it another way, “Things are going to change; friends will come and go, but our relationship with GOD is a ‘for sure’ thing.” In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul list all the things that change in our lives or the things that change our lives: suffering, hardships, persecutions, famine, nakedness, danger, the sword, death, life, past, present, and the future. Then he remarks that none of those things or absolutely “nothing will separate us from the love of GOD” (Romans 8: 31-39).
One consoling thought for me is that even though I have to say “GOoD bye” and “farewell” to friends and family who have not or will not be part of my life as they have been in the past, I believe that I will be re-united with them again, all because of the love of GOD. I have already experienced this. Thinking that I would never see some people again, we have had to say “GOoD bye” to each other, and then, later, have crossed paths in the strangest of circumstances. I received messages from former members of the youth group I directed over 40 years ago. The Lord Jesus allows us to sometimes make re-connection with those who had once been a very active part of life. Thanks to social networking, I have heard from many friends from whom I had not heard anything for a quarter of a century or longer. I have also re-connected with my elementary and high school classmates, some of whom I had not heard anything during the 56 years since our high school graduation.
A couple of years ago, our Stephen Ministry group had a guest speaker. She was a woman whose baby died during the last month of her pregnancy. Unbeknown to the mother about the coming death of her little girl, she had chosen her baby’s name on the night of her child’s death. She had given her little girl the name of Trinity. The grieving mother continues to celebrate Trinity’s birthday every year and she and her other three children constantly recall Trinity at special holiday celebrations.
There are those who have already gone home to be in the house of our Abba-Father, Who happens to be GOD. Even across the door known as death, they are still close to me, sometimes even closer than before, because of our being united in the love of GOD. That does not take away all the sadness of having to say “GOoD-bye.” That is why I prefer not to say “GOoD-bye,” but rather say “A-Dios.” For as I bid others “A-Dios” I am saying “To GOD” or “In your journeying towards GOD,” thus wishing them a safe journey to GOD. I am saying also that “In GOD” we will be united, especially when we all finish our earthly, human pilgrimage, and we are one with GOD for all eternity. So let us not say our final departing words to others, let us pray “A-Dios.” For it is in our traveling “To GOD” that we are united “In GOD.”
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever loving. You want us to be with You in Your house. At times on our journey there, we get too accustomed to our surroundings and traveling companions and lose focus on what our destination is – A-Dios (To [be with You, O] GOD). We find it hard to come to a point where we have to let go of a relationship with one or more people who have journeyed along with us and helped us on our way. Your Son, Jesus, at the end of His earthly life, also had to face changes in His relationship with the disciples. Although He knew He would always be a part of their lives, He also realized that the way He would relate to them would be different. St. Paul faced similar experiences in his ministry. Through the example of Your Son and St. Paul, You have reminded us that our focus must always be on heading to You. We must say “A-Dios” to others to remind them and us that our orientation must be A-Dios – “To [be with You, O] GOD.” We praise You for giving us those special people in our lives who have made a difference to us as we have taken the sometimes difficult steps to You. We ask for strength to continue along without some of those who have touched our lives. We also ask that we may give inspiration (“breathe the Spirit in”) to others to whom You have allowed us to minister and serve. We make this prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus, Your Son, our Guide and Coach, Who has traveled along the way and prepared a place for us in Your House, and Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: Never Say Goodbye by The Heritage Singers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q62N7www_As
Christians Never Say Goodbye by the Nelons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caYXtloJnfI
God Be With You Till We Meet Again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHrtHdbdOE
Video of the Day: Saint Isidore the Farmer Biography and Prayer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV9c56I6Rc8
© rjk, 12-11-22
Saint Isidore the Farmer: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-isidore-the-farmer
Readings: Acts 20: 28-38; Psalm 68: 29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab; John 17: 11b-19
Again today, we encounter two individuals in our readings who have to say their farewells to their disciples. They realize their time with their followers is drawing to a close. They end their sessions with those who have been close to them for a rather lengthy bit of time by praying with and for them.
In the First Reading, St. Paul bids goodbye to the leaders and the people of Ephesus and Miletus. He asks the leaders to continue to watch over the flock that has been entrusted to their care. St. Paul speaks of the hardships and attacks they will experience in the days ahead, once he is gone. He reminds them, as he says, of Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” With that, he prays with them and takes leave of them.
In the Gospel (part of the Last Supper Discourse [John 13-17]), Jesus continues His final words to His followers before His death. The whole seventeenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples (which includes us). Jesus asks His Abba-Father to take care of those who have been called in Jesus’ name. He asks that those who will continue His ministry after He is gone will be made holy in the truth.
These readings, together with the experiences that I have had over the past few years, has given me cause to reflect on saying “GOoD-bye.” It is never easy to say our last words to those for whom we have cared and those with whom we have shared so much time. I have never done well at saying “GOoD-byes.” It is hard for me to realize that the relationships that I have formed are at a point that causes them to change because of death, people’s separating in distance by moves, changing jobs, retirement, or because others have chosen to do different things with their lives and thus will not be as near as they have been.
Over sixteen years ago at this time of the year, I changed my position at the school where I had worked. Although I was still at the same school, I left the classroom (at least as much as I had been doing) and switched to an office. The room that had been assigned to me for the previous 23 years was no longer my “home” away from home. The teachings of certain lessons were the last I taught. I cleaned out items which I had accumulated for nearly a quarter of a century. It caused me to reflect on the end of a certain aspect of my life and a beginning of another. I have also had to say my final greetings, or I am in the process of saying “GOoD-bye” to faculty and friends who have died recently or who are moving on to other jobs or to retirement. I am no longer working for the school, since I retired during the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Seven years ago, I had to say “GOoD-bye” to one of my fellow teachers who had been at the school for all the years I had been there. He was the last one who had worked at the school before I joined the staff.
The only thing certain and unchanging in life is not the proverbial death and taxes, but the love of GOD poured out in Christ Jesus. Yes, death (and to a certain extent, taxes) are also a fixed part of life, but the love of GOD goes beyond death and taxes. St. Augustine once remarked, “our souls are restless, until they rest in You, O GOD.” To put it another way, “Things are going to change; friends will come and go, but our relationship with GOD is a ‘for sure’ thing.” In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul list all the things that change in our lives or the things that change our lives: suffering, hardships, persecutions, famine, nakedness, danger, the sword, death, life, past, present, and the future. Then he remarks that none of those things or absolutely “nothing will separate us from the love of GOD” (Romans 8: 31-39).
One consoling thought for me is that even though I have to say “GOoD bye” and “farewell” to friends and family who have not or will not be part of my life as they have been in the past, I believe that I will be re-united with them again, all because of the love of GOD. I have already experienced this. Thinking that I would never see some people again, we have had to say “GOoD bye” to each other, and then, later, have crossed paths in the strangest of circumstances. I received messages from former members of the youth group I directed over 40 years ago. The Lord Jesus allows us to sometimes make re-connection with those who had once been a very active part of life. Thanks to social networking, I have heard from many friends from whom I had not heard anything for a quarter of a century or longer. I have also re-connected with my elementary and high school classmates, some of whom I had not heard anything during the 56 years since our high school graduation.
A couple of years ago, our Stephen Ministry group had a guest speaker. She was a woman whose baby died during the last month of her pregnancy. Unbeknown to the mother about the coming death of her little girl, she had chosen her baby’s name on the night of her child’s death. She had given her little girl the name of Trinity. The grieving mother continues to celebrate Trinity’s birthday every year and she and her other three children constantly recall Trinity at special holiday celebrations.
There are those who have already gone home to be in the house of our Abba-Father, Who happens to be GOD. Even across the door known as death, they are still close to me, sometimes even closer than before, because of our being united in the love of GOD. That does not take away all the sadness of having to say “GOoD-bye.” That is why I prefer not to say “GOoD-bye,” but rather say “A-Dios.” For as I bid others “A-Dios” I am saying “To GOD” or “In your journeying towards GOD,” thus wishing them a safe journey to GOD. I am saying also that “In GOD” we will be united, especially when we all finish our earthly, human pilgrimage, and we are one with GOD for all eternity. So let us not say our final departing words to others, let us pray “A-Dios.” For it is in our traveling “To GOD” that we are united “In GOD.”
- The personal question/action for today: Who has/have been special traveling companion(s) in my journey of faith who no longer is/are able to journey with me in the same way as he/she/they once did? What have I learned and experienced during our pilgrimage together that will benefit me and those with whom I will travel in the future? How can I say “A-Dios” to them and demonstrate my wish that they complete their journey “to GOD”?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever loving. You want us to be with You in Your house. At times on our journey there, we get too accustomed to our surroundings and traveling companions and lose focus on what our destination is – A-Dios (To [be with You, O] GOD). We find it hard to come to a point where we have to let go of a relationship with one or more people who have journeyed along with us and helped us on our way. Your Son, Jesus, at the end of His earthly life, also had to face changes in His relationship with the disciples. Although He knew He would always be a part of their lives, He also realized that the way He would relate to them would be different. St. Paul faced similar experiences in his ministry. Through the example of Your Son and St. Paul, You have reminded us that our focus must always be on heading to You. We must say “A-Dios” to others to remind them and us that our orientation must be A-Dios – “To [be with You, O] GOD.” We praise You for giving us those special people in our lives who have made a difference to us as we have taken the sometimes difficult steps to You. We ask for strength to continue along without some of those who have touched our lives. We also ask that we may give inspiration (“breathe the Spirit in”) to others to whom You have allowed us to minister and serve. We make this prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus, Your Son, our Guide and Coach, Who has traveled along the way and prepared a place for us in Your House, and Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: Never Say Goodbye by The Heritage Singers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q62N7www_As
Christians Never Say Goodbye by the Nelons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caYXtloJnfI
God Be With You Till We Meet Again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHrtHdbdOE
Video of the Day: Saint Isidore the Farmer Biography and Prayer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV9c56I6Rc8
© rjk, 12-11-22