Reflection: May 29, 2022
Jeanne Marie Hatch, SHCJ - May 27, 2022
Seventh Sunday of Easter: Feast of the Ascension
This area is one of six in the country that observed the feast of the Ascension on this past Thursday. The rest of the country celebrates it on this Sunday. Thus we celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter today. The spirit of the Ascension, however, lingers over our liturgy today. The readings reflect the fact Jesus has ascended after he instructs them, “Go and teach all nations; I am with you always, until the end of the world.” We remember Jesus’ promise to not leave us orphans as he prays for us.
In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear the powerful account of Stephen, the first martyr, for his faith in Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen can do nothing less than witness to his Lord with his young life, while he is granted a vision of Jesus at God’s right hand. Jesus’ promise to be with Stephen is kept and he dies imitating the death of Jesus by forgiving the ones who stoned him. It is a curious point that Saul is mentioned here as the man who watched the garments of those who stoned Stephen. Perhaps a seed of faith was sown in Saul that day. And not long after this event Paul gave similar witness to the Lord Jesus. Our call to witness will not be as dramatic as Stephen’s nor Paul’s but let us pray that we remember to act with trust in the Spirit, knowing God will be with us until the end of time.
The second reading includes the very last few verses from the Book of Revelation. Rich in imagery as is true throughout the Book, today’s selection from John describes the voice saying, “I am Alpha-Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end. Images of Jesus include: the root, the offspring of David, the bright morning star, and the Spirit and the bride, who say, “Come!” They invite us who thirst to receive the gift of living water. John concludes his writing with the line, “Yes, I am coming soon. AMEN. Come Lord Jesus!” As the church prepares for Pentecost we unite in offering this prayer, Come, Lord Jesus through the visit of your Holy Spirit to the Churches.
The Gospel reading from John returns to the discourse at the Last Supper when Jesus prays for his followers. The entire Gospel for today is from Jesus prayer for those gathered around the table and for us gathered around our world. See which touching, intimate phrase catches your attention. Reflect on those below or look it up in your Bible or on the internet and read it over slowly. Stay with that thought in prayer this week as we await the Feast of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
“Father, I pray not only for them but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us…I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one… that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me… Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me. I made your name known to them so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” AMEN!
Jeanne Marie Hatch, SHCJ