April 30, 2024 - Tue. of 5th Week of Easter (Opt. Mem. of St. Pius V)
May you continue to find the Way as you journey toward the house of our Abba-Father Who happens to be GOD.
Some people seem to have a great sense of direction, and others do not. Before other members of my family had GPS in their vehicles, they used to call me up (after pulling over to the side of the road?) and ask me how to get to where they wanted to go. I would ask them to give me the names of the streets and which direction they were going, and that was sometimes difficult for them to tell. I would then give them directions. This was something that I had to do when I was helping some then-teenagers learn to drive. I have also given advice to people on which direction they should seek on their spiritual journey. Friends can give direction and head in a different direction, but still be at your side.
We are all traveling along a path that hopefully will lead us to the Way. With the help from friends who are traveling with us, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and by listening to the One Who has gone before us and Who is the Way, we will arrive at our final destination – the house of our Abba Who happens to be GOD.
May you continue to find the Way as you journey toward the house of our Abba-Father Who happens to be GOD.
Some people seem to have a great sense of direction, and others do not. Before other members of my family had GPS in their vehicles, they used to call me up (after pulling over to the side of the road?) and ask me how to get to where they wanted to go. I would ask them to give me the names of the streets and which direction they were going, and that was sometimes difficult for them to tell. I would then give them directions. This was something that I had to do when I was helping some then-teenagers learn to drive. I have also given advice to people on which direction they should seek on their spiritual journey. Friends can give direction and head in a different direction, but still be at your side.
We are all traveling along a path that hopefully will lead us to the Way. With the help from friends who are traveling with us, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and by listening to the One Who has gone before us and Who is the Way, we will arrive at our final destination – the house of our Abba Who happens to be GOD.
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/043024.cfm
Saint Pius V: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pius-v
Readings: Acts 14: 19-28; Psalm 145: 10-11, 12-13ab, 21; John 14: 27-31a
Today, we hear St. Paul and Jesus both give “farewell” addresses to their followers. They do this to encourage those whom they will leave behind, so that those left behind will be able to continue their journey without the ones who have been their physical traveling companions on the journey of faith.
St. Paul speaks to the faithful in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
He has started faith communities all around the region. This was the purpose of the mission that he had undertaken – to announce the GOoD News, to get the assemblies (churches) started, and move on. He is concluding his first missionary expedition and heading back to the Christian assembly in Antioch who had sent him on the journey.
As we continue to hear the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel today, Jesus also speaks to those who have followed Him. He reminds them of His mission – to be the GOoD News from His
Abba-Father. He is about to complete His earthly stay by moving onto His hour of glory – His death, resurrection, and ascension. He wants to encourage His disciples not to become anxious or worried, but to receive His gift of Shalom – Peace. The Shalom which Jesus gives is not the peace of which the world thinks – a time free from war and/or discord. Rather it is an inner sense of knowing that the work of GOD is continuing, and people are being reconciled to GOD through the GOoD News of Jesus.
As I reflect on the readings, what strikes me is that we are all traveling along a path that is constantly changing. We are nomads or pilgrims journeying with others. There is a constant change in those who travel with us. There may be some who are with us for quite a long time – members of our family, longtime friends, etc. Even they, however, will not always be our companions along the whole way. I am reminded of this as a close friend for over 40 years died twenty-one years ago this month. My friend and I had been “brothers” to each other and had helped each other over the course of four decades. I also recall my parents, as my father passed away twenty years ago and my mother thirty years ago. My friend and my parents have now moved on to the next life, while I am still here journeying along, now without these close “family” members physically being with me.
That could make me feel insecure and unstable. We all want some sense of stability. Yet, life is ongoing and never stays in one place. I am reminded of another friend of mine (who has also passed on to the next stage of life) who continually said, “that we are going to pass this point in our lives only once. We have never been exactly here before, nor will we be ever here again.” That is because we are pilgrim people, always journeying along the way to our Abba Who happens to be GOD. Yes, we may have been at this exact longitude and latitude, but we are now in a different place in our faith journey than we were the last time we were at this physical location.
I was talking to another friend, and we were talking about the fact that we know where we are heading, but we are not always sure of what will be around the next turn in the road. As Christians, we know that we are headed to be with GOD – we are, as we say in Latin, ad Deum (or Spanish A-Dios or French A-Dieu – “to/towards GOD”). We even know the Way – Jesus. What we are not so sure about is: how exactly we are to get there. It would be nice if GOD would just email or text us and say, “At the next fork in the road, I want you to take a left.” Or “I want you to travel with the next person you meet.” Or “You will be traveling along the path with this companion for a long time (or a short time).” The fact is, however, that GOD does not communicate the exact directions for us to follow, nor can we go to www.maps.net/yahoo-maps or www.mapquest. com/ or www.google.com/maps/ nor is there Google Heaven like there is Google Earth where we can see where we are going. We do not have an electronic GPS which gives us step by step turns. Even though GOD does give us the Way (Jesus), the unknown twist and turns will still be there. We do, however, have a divine GOD Positioning Savior (GPS) when we look at Jesus, but we still have to make the moment by moments changes without always knowing the exact directions.
Quite a few years ago, I was talking with another friend who purchased a vehicle with Global Position System, the first for him. The GPS was the type that had to download maps into the unit. He found out that even the GPS system he had in the vehicle was not perfect. It did not know when roads were temporarily blocked or when streets might have changed since the last time he download the map file. But, as he found out, when he made changes not recorded in the GPS system, the system got him back on target to travel to his ultimate destination. The system voiced or flashed on the screen, “Recalculating” and then told him what must be done to get back on track to arrive at the destination.
So, it is with GOD. Our GOD Positioning Savior (GPS) helps us get back
on track when we have to make changes in our journeying. Jesus “recalculates” after we have missed a turn or chosen a different path from the one that GOD had planned for us. GOD wants us to be on track toward our ultimate destination with the Lord Jesus. We can then experience the joy and peace of being ad Deum – heading toward GOD and eventually in Deo (in GOD) or cum Deo (with GOD). As we go through the events of the last few years (with pandemic, climate changes, civil and political unrest, war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East), we are often unsure of where we are heading. But we have been given the Way while we travel along.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives the disciples His Shalom. He tells them not to be distressed or fearful. He knows that He will not physically be walking beside them as He has for the last years in their shared life on earth. Yet, He knows that He will be with them in and through His Holy Spirit. Paul also knows that he and those whom he has brought into the family of GOD will always be united in the Spirit, even if they might not ever see each other again on earth. By our faith, we are also told not to be scared during the troubling times we have experienced, because GOD will see us through. GOD is still with us. We may have lost loved ones to the virus or other causes of death, but we believe they are in the hands of GOD.
Life is full of many twists and turns, lots of changes. Yet in and through the Spirit, we are united as we follow the Way. We may have to say farewell to some of our traveling companions – for a while – but those who follow the Way will be re-united when we get to our final destination – the house of our Abba-Father Who happens to be GOD.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, never changing, yet always new. Through Your GOoDness, You have given us a life that is not always straight and flat. There are often twist and turns, hills and valleys. You want us to arrive at the destination of Your House. It is then that we will finally be at home. We thank You for giving us the Way – Your Son, Jesus. Jesus has gifted us with His Shalom-peace, so that we will not be overly anxious, as we face the unknown beyond the next turn. May we be aware that even if we have to say farewell to some of our traveling companions, we will always be united in Your Holy Spirit. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Who is the Way to You, and Who is our Master and Lord and Who is the Life and Resurrection and Who is our GPS (GOD Positioning Savior) 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: Lead Me, Lord by Gary Valenciano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgdQPGjen4
Pilgrim by Barry McGuire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1320NvdvjrY
Video of the Day: St. Pius V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMcXJHkdF64
St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, April 30:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUEPXcYNKuQ
© rjk, 12-02-22
Saint Pius V: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pius-v
Readings: Acts 14: 19-28; Psalm 145: 10-11, 12-13ab, 21; John 14: 27-31a
Today, we hear St. Paul and Jesus both give “farewell” addresses to their followers. They do this to encourage those whom they will leave behind, so that those left behind will be able to continue their journey without the ones who have been their physical traveling companions on the journey of faith.
St. Paul speaks to the faithful in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
He has started faith communities all around the region. This was the purpose of the mission that he had undertaken – to announce the GOoD News, to get the assemblies (churches) started, and move on. He is concluding his first missionary expedition and heading back to the Christian assembly in Antioch who had sent him on the journey.
As we continue to hear the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel today, Jesus also speaks to those who have followed Him. He reminds them of His mission – to be the GOoD News from His
Abba-Father. He is about to complete His earthly stay by moving onto His hour of glory – His death, resurrection, and ascension. He wants to encourage His disciples not to become anxious or worried, but to receive His gift of Shalom – Peace. The Shalom which Jesus gives is not the peace of which the world thinks – a time free from war and/or discord. Rather it is an inner sense of knowing that the work of GOD is continuing, and people are being reconciled to GOD through the GOoD News of Jesus.
As I reflect on the readings, what strikes me is that we are all traveling along a path that is constantly changing. We are nomads or pilgrims journeying with others. There is a constant change in those who travel with us. There may be some who are with us for quite a long time – members of our family, longtime friends, etc. Even they, however, will not always be our companions along the whole way. I am reminded of this as a close friend for over 40 years died twenty-one years ago this month. My friend and I had been “brothers” to each other and had helped each other over the course of four decades. I also recall my parents, as my father passed away twenty years ago and my mother thirty years ago. My friend and my parents have now moved on to the next life, while I am still here journeying along, now without these close “family” members physically being with me.
That could make me feel insecure and unstable. We all want some sense of stability. Yet, life is ongoing and never stays in one place. I am reminded of another friend of mine (who has also passed on to the next stage of life) who continually said, “that we are going to pass this point in our lives only once. We have never been exactly here before, nor will we be ever here again.” That is because we are pilgrim people, always journeying along the way to our Abba Who happens to be GOD. Yes, we may have been at this exact longitude and latitude, but we are now in a different place in our faith journey than we were the last time we were at this physical location.
I was talking to another friend, and we were talking about the fact that we know where we are heading, but we are not always sure of what will be around the next turn in the road. As Christians, we know that we are headed to be with GOD – we are, as we say in Latin, ad Deum (or Spanish A-Dios or French A-Dieu – “to/towards GOD”). We even know the Way – Jesus. What we are not so sure about is: how exactly we are to get there. It would be nice if GOD would just email or text us and say, “At the next fork in the road, I want you to take a left.” Or “I want you to travel with the next person you meet.” Or “You will be traveling along the path with this companion for a long time (or a short time).” The fact is, however, that GOD does not communicate the exact directions for us to follow, nor can we go to www.maps.net/yahoo-maps or www.mapquest. com/ or www.google.com/maps/ nor is there Google Heaven like there is Google Earth where we can see where we are going. We do not have an electronic GPS which gives us step by step turns. Even though GOD does give us the Way (Jesus), the unknown twist and turns will still be there. We do, however, have a divine GOD Positioning Savior (GPS) when we look at Jesus, but we still have to make the moment by moments changes without always knowing the exact directions.
Quite a few years ago, I was talking with another friend who purchased a vehicle with Global Position System, the first for him. The GPS was the type that had to download maps into the unit. He found out that even the GPS system he had in the vehicle was not perfect. It did not know when roads were temporarily blocked or when streets might have changed since the last time he download the map file. But, as he found out, when he made changes not recorded in the GPS system, the system got him back on target to travel to his ultimate destination. The system voiced or flashed on the screen, “Recalculating” and then told him what must be done to get back on track to arrive at the destination.
So, it is with GOD. Our GOD Positioning Savior (GPS) helps us get back
on track when we have to make changes in our journeying. Jesus “recalculates” after we have missed a turn or chosen a different path from the one that GOD had planned for us. GOD wants us to be on track toward our ultimate destination with the Lord Jesus. We can then experience the joy and peace of being ad Deum – heading toward GOD and eventually in Deo (in GOD) or cum Deo (with GOD). As we go through the events of the last few years (with pandemic, climate changes, civil and political unrest, war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East), we are often unsure of where we are heading. But we have been given the Way while we travel along.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives the disciples His Shalom. He tells them not to be distressed or fearful. He knows that He will not physically be walking beside them as He has for the last years in their shared life on earth. Yet, He knows that He will be with them in and through His Holy Spirit. Paul also knows that he and those whom he has brought into the family of GOD will always be united in the Spirit, even if they might not ever see each other again on earth. By our faith, we are also told not to be scared during the troubling times we have experienced, because GOD will see us through. GOD is still with us. We may have lost loved ones to the virus or other causes of death, but we believe they are in the hands of GOD.
Life is full of many twists and turns, lots of changes. Yet in and through the Spirit, we are united as we follow the Way. We may have to say farewell to some of our traveling companions – for a while – but those who follow the Way will be re-united when we get to our final destination – the house of our Abba-Father Who happens to be GOD.
- The personal question/action for today: What is it that I fear most as I travel along toward the house of my Abba-Father Who happens to be GOD? How can I bring the gift of Shalom not only to myself, but also to others as we journey along the Way, especially when I have to say “farewell” or A-Dios to some of my traveling companions? Is there some people who need to receive the Lord Jesus’ gift of Shalom and with whom I can share that Shalom at this moment on their pilgrim travels?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, never changing, yet always new. Through Your GOoDness, You have given us a life that is not always straight and flat. There are often twist and turns, hills and valleys. You want us to arrive at the destination of Your House. It is then that we will finally be at home. We thank You for giving us the Way – Your Son, Jesus. Jesus has gifted us with His Shalom-peace, so that we will not be overly anxious, as we face the unknown beyond the next turn. May we be aware that even if we have to say farewell to some of our traveling companions, we will always be united in Your Holy Spirit. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Who is the Way to You, and Who is our Master and Lord and Who is the Life and Resurrection and Who is our GPS (GOD Positioning Savior) 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: Lead Me, Lord by Gary Valenciano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgdQPGjen4
Pilgrim by Barry McGuire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1320NvdvjrY
Video of the Day: St. Pius V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMcXJHkdF64
St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, April 30:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUEPXcYNKuQ
© rjk, 12-02-22