Father, I Desire That, As You And I Are One, They Also May Be One With Us.

28^TH MAY, 2017 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A).

SCRIPTURE READING:

1. Acts 1:12:14;

Ps 27:1-4.7-8a (R.13)

1. 1 Pet. 4:13-16; Accl; Jn.14:18
2. Gospel Jn. 17:1-11a

Preamble:

Dear friends please repeat these words after me;

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my mind, may your word never depart from me.

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my ears, help me listen and obey your voice.

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my heart, help me welcome you always.

Holy Spirit, rekindle in me the fire of your love. Amen.

THEME: Father, I desire that, as you and I are one, they also may be one with us.

Few days ago precisely on Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven, a celebration which makes great meaning for us as Christians today just as it did for the apostles of Old.

Pope Benedict XVI in his Ascension homily in the year 2005 says that the feast of the Ascension of the Lord does not mean that the Lord has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Christ’s Ascension is not a journey into space toward the most remote stars or space…, Christ’s Ascension means that he no longer belongs to the world of corruption and death that conditions our life. It means that he belongs entirely to God. He, the Eternal Son, led our human existence into God’s presence, taking with him flesh and blood in a transfigured form.

The human being finds room in God; through Christ, the human being was introduced into the very life of God. And since God embraces and sustains the entire cosmos, the Ascension of the Lord means that Christ has not departed from us, but that he is now, thanks to his being with the Father, close to each one of us forever. Each one of us can be on intimate terms with him; each one can call upon him. The Lord is always within hearing. We can inwardly draw away from him. We can live turning our backs on him. But he always waits for us and is always close to us.

Because he wants to be close to us he had to make a priestly prayer for us so that we may experience abundant peace in his presence and strength. It is this prayer that assures us of his ever close presence to us. To deepen this ever abiding presence, he promised the disciples his Holy Spirit.

Acts of the Apostles 1:8 “but when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This passage reveals to us that Jesus told his disciples everything, and God can give no more than himself. In Jesus, God gave us his whole self, that is, he gave us everything. As well as or together with this, there can be no other revelation which can communicate more or in some way complete the revelation of Christ. In him, in the Son, all has been said to us, all has been given.

The mission of the Spirit is to introduce the church, in an ever new way from generation to generation, into the greatness of Christ’s mystery. The Spirit places nothing different or new besides Christ, no second level of revelation. Christ is the fullness of the God’s revelation.

He will only reveal what he has received from the Lord-John 16:14. Christ says only what he hears and receives from the father, thus the Holy Spirit is the interpreter of Christ. He will have received from me. He does not lead us to other places, far from Christ, but takes us further and further into Christ’s light. Consequently, Christian revelation is both ever old and new. Thus, all things are and always have been given to us. At the same time, every generation, in the never ending encounter with the Lord-an encounter mediated by the Holy Spirit-always learns something new.

The Holy Spirit, therefore, is the power through which Christ causes us to experience his closeness. The acts of the Apostles chapter 1:8 speaks of …you will be my witnesses. The risen lord needs witnesses who have met him, people who have known him intimately through the power of the Holy Spirit; those who have, so to speak, actually touched him, can witness to him.

It is in this way that the church, the family of Christ, “beginning at Jerusalem” as Acts of the Apostles 1:8 says, spread to the very ends of the earth. It is through witnesses that the Church was built-starting with Peter and Paul and the Twelve, to the point of including all who, filled with Christ, have rekindled down the centuries and will rekindle down the centuries and will rekindle the flame of faith in a way that is ever new. All Christians in their own way can and must be witnesses of the Risen Lord.

When we read the Saints’ names we can see how often they have been-and continue to be-first and foremost simple people from whom shone-and shines-a radiant light that can lead others to Christ.

We too are called to emulate them in their brave and courageous act of witnessing to the Lord. we recall that many of them suffered terribly for the sake of Christ, but today they are wearing the crown of the saints because as the second reading of today taken from 1 Peter 4:13-16 tells us-they rejoiced in it because they shared in the sufferings of Christ and they glad because the Lord’s glory has shone upon them. it goes on to tell us that “if you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you.”

What kind of suffering is expected of us who are called witnesses? This suffering must be a Godly kind of suffering one seen as bearing wrong patiently, teaching the ignorant not necessarily with too much words but with Godly attitudes, praying for the living and the dead, correcting the sinners, counseling those in doubt, consoling the sorrowful, and forgiving wrongs willingly-these are called the spiritual works of mercy and in such do we live out our Christian calling not a worldly kind of suffering filled with lies, deceit, been a murderer or a thief, or a wrong-doer, or a mischief maker all because one considers himself as suffering. The second reading makes it clear once again that our attitude should be that of not been ashamed but giving all glory to God.

We cannot do this on our own that is why the priestly prayer is much needful today as it was in the days of the disciples of old. We can only be true disciples if we see sufferings from the lens of Jesus. He has prayed for us and wants us to be one as he and the father are one. This oneness can only be possible when we are very attached to him. For he was attached to the father in every way and that was why he was able to endure the suffering to the very end.

There are benefits of this oneness between Jesus and his father of which we can also learn from. Oneness with the Lord brings strength, oneness helps us achieve more. Oneness with the Lord keeps us focused to the goal. Oneness with the Lord inspires and motivates us to keep moving. Oneness with the Lord keeps distraction away from us. Oneness with the Lord helps us discover our purpose in life, our path in life and meaning for our life. Oneness with the Lord keeps us healthy and strong.

Suffering is painful but it purifies us and helps us to partake in Christ’s suffering on the cross. It brings us closer to the paschal mystery of Christ. It was because he suffered he was able to win the crown of glory. On this premise, he asked the father for two things (1.) To be glorified so that the son may glory you in turn, and (2.) To be restored to his former glory, to his pre-existent exaltation.  He was indeed rewarded because he stayed connected to the Lord and fulfilled all that God expected of him.

This leaves us also with a lesson to know that in moments of suffering we are never alone. God is always present with us. If we are to be true witnesses of the Lord, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection says to us- let us remember that God lays no great burden upon us; a little remembrance of Him from time to time; a little adoration; sometimes to pray for His grace, sometimes to offer him thanks for the benefits he has given you, and still gives you, in the midst of your troubles. He asks you to console yourself with him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to him even at your meals when you are in company; the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer than you think.

As we witnesses we will go through this troubles but when trouble strikes its wise to apply spiritual strategies. They are short prayers, inspirational thoughts and your own positive reflections.

“Take your trouble to God” is a sound advice. Never forget this old proverb: “God can handle any trouble.” Your heavenly father will comfort you and help you think calmly, clearly and positively.

Because he has prayed for you, you can be assured of his eternal presence. Here is a famous story of foot prints in the sand;

One night I had a dream…I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes from my life. in each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One was mine and the other was the Lord’s. When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and, to my surprise I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints. And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life. I asked the Lord about it: “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why you left my side when I needed you most.” The Lord said: “My child, I never left you during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.”

St. Augustine is known to have prayed thus: God of life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and wear us down. When the road seems dreary and endless, the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in them and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, we beseech thee Lord, turn our eyes to where the heavens are full of promise.

Finally William F. Wiebler tells us thus-in all things I turn Now to the Lord;

In my affliction-I cry out that I might be healed.

In my weakness-I look that I may be strengthened.

In my doubt-I listen that I may hear the Lord.

In my despair-I pray that I may hope in Him.

In my trouble-I trust that I may find the way.

In my difficulty-I follow that I may be found.

In my stubbornness-I open up that I may grow.

In my suffering-I change that I may be transformed.

In my conversion-I rejoice because I am one with Him.

Therefore-in all things I turn now to the Lord because for me he truly is THE WAY-THE TRUTH-THE LIFE-PRAISE HIM!.

Let us know that the Lord will never leave us-he is with us in an unlimited way in the person of the Holy Spirit. Let us open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and he will constantly guide us to be true witnesses. May the Lord strengthen us in all we do now and always in the name of Jesus. Amen.