Seventh Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 61
Lectionary: 61
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”
and when he said this, he fell asleep.
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”
and when he said this, he fell asleep.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
R. (1a and 9a) The
Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
All gods are prostrate before him.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
All gods are prostrate before him.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2REV 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
I, John, heard a voice saying to me:
"Behold, I am coming soon.
I bring with me the recompense I will give to each
according to his deeds.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end."
Blessed are they who wash their robes
so as to have the right to the tree of life
and enter the city through its gates.
"I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the root and offspring of David,
the bright morning star."
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
Let the hearer say, "Come."
Let the one who thirsts come forward,
and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.
The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
"Behold, I am coming soon.
I bring with me the recompense I will give to each
according to his deeds.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end."
Blessed are they who wash their robes
so as to have the right to the tree of life
and enter the city through its gates.
"I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the root and offspring of David,
the bright morning star."
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
Let the hearer say, "Come."
Let the one who thirsts come forward,
and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.
The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
AlleluiaCF. JN 14:18
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
"Holy 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 also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as 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 before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
"Holy 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 also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as 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 before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
Meditation: "May
they become perfectly one"
When
you pray what do you ask for - God's help, blessing, guidance, and wisdom? One
of the greatest privileges and responsibilities we have been given by God is to
pray not only for ourselves, but for others as well. The Lord Jesus lived a
life full of prayer, blessing, and gratitude to his Father in heaven. He prayed
for his disciples, especially when they were in great need or danger. Mark
tells us in his Gospel account (see chapter 6:46-51) that when Jesus was
praying alone on the mountain he saw that his disciples were in great distress
due to a life-threatening storm that was beating against their boat. Jesus
immediately came to their rescue - walking on the waves of the rough waters
before he calmed their fears and calmed the raging waters as well! Luke records
in his Gospel account the words of Jesus to Simon Peter shortly before Jesus'
arrest and Peter's denial of the Lord three times. "Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have
prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned
back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32). Jesus' prayers were
personal, direct, and focused on the welfare and well-being of others -
especially that they might find peace and unity with God and with one another.
Jesus
prays for all Christians to be united as one
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is found in the Gospel of John, the "high priestly" prayer which Jesus prayed aloud at his last supper meal with his disciples (John 17). This prayer most clearly reveals the heart and mind of Jesus - who and what he loved most - love for his Father in heaven and love for all who believe in him. His prayer focuses on the love and unity he desires for all who would believe in him and follow him, not only in the present, but in the future as well.
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is found in the Gospel of John, the "high priestly" prayer which Jesus prayed aloud at his last supper meal with his disciples (John 17). This prayer most clearly reveals the heart and mind of Jesus - who and what he loved most - love for his Father in heaven and love for all who believe in him. His prayer focuses on the love and unity he desires for all who would believe in him and follow him, not only in the present, but in the future as well.
Jesus'
prayer concludes with a petition for the unity among all Christians who profess
that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus prays for all men and women who will come
after him and follow him as his disciples (John 17:20). In a special way Jesus
prays here for each one of us that as members of his body the church we would
be one as he and his Father are one. The unity of Jesus, the only begotten Son
of God, with the eternal Father is a unity of mutual love, service, and honor,
and a oneness of mind, heart, and spirit. The Lord Jesus calls each and every
one of his followers into this unity of mutual love, respect, service, honor,
and friendship with all who belong to Christ.
To
make him known and loved by all
Jesus’ prayer on the eve of his sacrifice shows the great love and trust he had for his beloved disciples. He knew they would abandon him in his hour of trial, yet he entrusted to them the great task of spreading his name throughout the world and to the end of the ages. The Lord Jesus entrusts us today with the same mission - to make him known and loved by all. Jesus died and rose again that all might be one as he and the Father are one. Do you love all who belong to Christ and do you recognize and accept all baptized Christians as your brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, draws each one of us into the unity which he and the Father have together and into the unity he desires for all who belong to him - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of our beloved Father in heaven.
Jesus’ prayer on the eve of his sacrifice shows the great love and trust he had for his beloved disciples. He knew they would abandon him in his hour of trial, yet he entrusted to them the great task of spreading his name throughout the world and to the end of the ages. The Lord Jesus entrusts us today with the same mission - to make him known and loved by all. Jesus died and rose again that all might be one as he and the Father are one. Do you love all who belong to Christ and do you recognize and accept all baptized Christians as your brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, draws each one of us into the unity which he and the Father have together and into the unity he desires for all who belong to him - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of our beloved Father in heaven.
The
Lord intercedes for us right now
The Lord Jesus Christ included each one of us in his high priestly prayer at the last supper meal with his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross (John 17:20). And today the Lord Jesus continues his high priestly office as our intercessor before the throne of God in heaven. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7: 25). Do you join in Jesus' high priestly prayer that all who profess Jesus as Lord may grow in love and unity together as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed through the precious blood that was shed for us on the cross?
The Lord Jesus Christ included each one of us in his high priestly prayer at the last supper meal with his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross (John 17:20). And today the Lord Jesus continues his high priestly office as our intercessor before the throne of God in heaven. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7: 25). Do you join in Jesus' high priestly prayer that all who profess Jesus as Lord may grow in love and unity together as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed through the precious blood that was shed for us on the cross?
"Heavenly
Father, have mercy on all your people who have been redeemed by the precious
blood of your Son who offered up his life for us on the cross. Pardon our sins
and heal our divisions that we may grow in love, unity, and holiness together
as your sons and daughters. May all Christian people throughout the world
attain the unity for which Jesus prayed on the eve of his sacrifice. Renew in
us the power of the Holy Spirit that we may be a sign of that unity and a means
of its growth. Increase in us a fervent love, respect, and care for all of our
brothers and sisters who believe in Jesus Christ."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Prayer of unity for all who believe,
by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The
Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our
salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition
prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the
Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this,
it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since
even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that
his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that
discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE
LORD'S PRAYER 30.1)
Solemnity of the Ascension – Cycle C
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
The revelation we celebrate on this day is that the direct experience of God revealed to men and women in Jesus of Nazareth continues to be experienced when the Body of Christ, the Church, gathers in witness, love and mission. Jesus brought power and hope to people. As He talked, healed, and loved them, they felt the direct presence of God. To be in the company of Jesus was to be in the company of God. Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. Those appearances were more than their seeing a vision or acknowledging that death could not destroy the Lord. In His appearances Jesus told His disciples that the faithful would continue to experience His presence even though they could no longer see Him. The Holy Spirit would make them aware and sensitive to that presence in the Eucharist. They would feel the same healing power freeing them from their enslavement to sin and guilt. Their vision of life would be enlarged as they grew in their covenant relationship with God.
To say “My life has significance because I am a child of God called to carry out His will in my life” is to make a statement that opens one’s life to new power and possibilities. Experiencing Jesus the Christ, in other words, was not to cease with the death of Jesus or with the last of His resurrection appearances. The experience would continue among the faithful. The power and presence of Christ are eternal experiences, not limited to time and space. The presence of Christ is as much our experience as it was the experience of the disciples. Christ “reigns” eternally with God, the creative power who calls us into being. As we say in the Creed “...He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
1st Reading - Acts 1:1-11
Acts has been called “The Gospel of Luke, Volume 2” in that it takes over from where St. Luke stopped when writing his gospel with the ascension forming the hinge point. St. Luke, an educated man, a physician by profession, was meticulous and orderly. He sets out in Acts, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to prove the truth of the Apostles’ teaching and show how rapidly that teaching spread. It recounts the Church’s expansion which, particularly among the Gentiles, was marked by miracles; thus bearing out what our Lord had foretold: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Today’s reading, which documents Jesus’ ascension, records Jesus’ last words to His disciples which include this foretelling of the expansion of His Church.
1:1 In the first book,
The Gospel of Luke
Theophilus,
Who Theophilus is, is unknown although both Luke’s gospel and this book are addressed to him.
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered,
Greek: paschein - usually translated as “passion,” is translated here as “suffered.” It refers to Jesus’ integral passion-death experience.
appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Forty in Hebrew numerology is a number representing transition/change. Forty years is a generation; the flood was 40 days and 40 nights; Moses was on the mountain for 40 days; the Hebrews wandered in the desert for 40 years; Jesus was tempted for 40 days.
4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;
Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy
Spirit.”
This refers back to John’s statement in Luke 3:16 (or Matthew 3:11) “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” This precisely demonstrates the prophecy’s fulfillment and makes John the Baptist the herald of the Church as well as of the Messiah.
6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
This question is of present concern to Luke’s community. What is being stressed as the disciple’s mistaken hope is not a “worldly, nationalistic” kingdom as much as a hope of an immediate parousia, to which the outpouring of the Spirit was to lead.
7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
It is the preoccupation of an impending parousia that Jesus corrects, not the idea of Israel’s restoration (see also Mark 13:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).
8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,
The Spirit is the substitute for the parousia. The Spirit is the principle of continued Christian existence in a new era of sacred history, the era of the Church and mission.
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jerusalem is the geographic center of sacred history and the influence of the Church will spread in three geographical stages: Jerusalem; Judea and Samaria; the ends of the earth.
9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
A visible departure
10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
Luke does everything in twos. This brings to mind the finding of the empty tomb in Luke 24:4 and the transfiguration in Luke 9:30; especially the empty tomb where they ask “why do you look for the living among the dead?”
11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
The ascension is a prefiguration of the parousia.
2nd Reading - Ephesians 1:17-23
Toward the end of his second missionary journey (in the year A.D. 52) Saint Paul stayed for a while in Ephesus (Acts 18:19ff), one of the great cities of Asia Minor, where he preached and founded the church to which this letter is addressed. Shortly after this, a distinguished personality, Apollos, appeared in Ephesus; he received instruction from Aquila and his wife Priscilla, two disciples of Paul (Acts 18:24-26) and he, in turn, prepared the ground for Paul’s preaching on his third missionary journey (54-56). Paul’s visit was not without incident (Acts 19-20): he was forced to leave the city because of an uproar caused by Demetrius the silversmith. Paul did not forget the Ephesians, however, and, from Rome, he wrote them this letter. Paul’s main purpose in writing seems to be to explore the great mystery of the redemption, of which Christ Himself is the cornerstone, the foundation of the entire spiritual building into whom all Christians should be built. What we hear described in today’s reading is Jesus’ position in heaven after the ascension.
17 [May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
The phrase “Father of glory” occurs only here in the New Testament, but Acts 7:2 calls Him
“God of glory” and 1 Corinthians 2:8 says “Lord of glory.”
give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
Not knowledge merely of God’s plan, but knowledge “of Him”, an experience of God’s great love for men in Christ that would be visibly shown in a true brotherhood of men.
“It is this God of the incarnate man who is the Father of glory, wisdom and truth, who gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to those who believe in His Son so that they may become wise and contemplate the glory of the Lord with unveiled face (2 Corinthians 3:18). When this wisdom and revelation have made them wise and opened to them the mysteries that were hidden, it follows at once that they have the eyes of their heart enlightened.” [Saint Jerome (A.D. 386), Commentaries on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 1,1,15].
18 May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy one
The members of His Church. Not only the Church on earth (Church Militant) but in purgatory (Church Suffering) and in heaven as well (Church Triumphant).
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe,
God’s mighty power overcomes humanly impossible obstacles.
in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
The raising and seating are one continuous action.
21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
Angelic beings who were thought to control the world and who were created through the wisdom of God.
“He says not merely ‘above’ but ‘far above.’ For God is higher than the powers on high. So He led Him up there, the very one who shared our lowly humanity. He led Him from the lowest depth to the highest sovereignty, beyond which there is no higher honor. ‘Above every authority,’ he says: not merely compared with this or that. ... What gnats are compared with humans, so is the whole creation compared with God.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D. 392-397), Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 3,1,20-23].
and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
No present or future force or power can block God’s work.
22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
The Church is the body, Christ is the head.
“Oh, how high He has raised the Church! For, as He were lifting it by some stage machine, He has led it up to a great height and installed it on that throne. For where the head is, there is the body also.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D. 392-397), Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 3,1,20-23].
Alternate 2nd Reading - Hebrews 9:24-28, 10:19-23
It is most probable that the Hebrews to whom this epistle is addressed were Christians of Jewish background who were very familiar with both the Greek language and with the culture of the Hebrews, particularly the ceremonies of Mosaic worship. This has caused many commentators to suggest that possibly these “Hebrews” were converts from priestly service.
The main purpose of this epistle is to show the superiority of Christianity over the Old Covenant, the Mosaic worship. To do this, the epistle focuses on Jesus’ priesthood and sacrifice and how they are superior to those of the Levitical priesthood. The reading which we hear today focuses on the Blood of Christ and His once-for-all sacrifice on the altar of the Cross.
9:24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
The tabernacle made by Moses and the Temple erected by Solomon were both copies of the Temple in heaven (Exodus 25:9).
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Romans 8:34
25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world.
If Jesus’ sacrifice had not been definitive and final, but had demanded constant repetition as did the annually repeated sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, he would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. The sacred author here rejects any notion of a repeated sacrifice of Jesus, but not the eternal continuance of His one sacrifice, a continuance we see in Revelation 5:6.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
The coming of the Messiah brought about the end of the present age and the inauguration of the “age to come.”
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
The sacred author points out that the heavenly sanctuary has always existed, but the heavenly sacrifice, which is now eternally present in the heavenly sanctuary, entered into the eternal order at a determined point in time. It was Jesus’ sacrifice on the altar of the cross which opened heaven so that all could approach God and obtain forgiveness for their sins.
27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
These verses look at three basic truths of Christian belief about the last things:
1) the unchanging covenant curse of death;
2) the fact that there is a judgment immediately after death; and 3) the second coming of Christ in glory.
The second coming of Christ will not be for the purpose of redeeming men from sin but to bring salvation, that is, glory, to those who placed their hope in Him. Christ will come into the world for a second time but not as Redeemer, for His sacrifice on the altar of the cross has already accomplished this once for all; rather, he will come as Judge of all. His coming is “appointed” and is as necessary as death and judgment. The three basic truths of Christian belief are closely interconnected. Immediately after death everyone will be judged on the conduct of his or her life (see 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). We eagerly await His coming because our purpose in living this life is to be with Him in the next one.
10:19 Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 20 by the new and living way
Literally “the recently sacrificed and living way.” This is a figurative expression indicating that Christ is the way, and that this way has been recently opened, has been sacrificed and is alive.
he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,
Not only the veil in the Temple, but the barrier erected by God to prevent entry into the garden (heaven) after the sin of Adam. It was through His flesh, His sacrifice, that the gates of heaven were opened.
21 and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,”
The “house of God” is the Christian community (see Hebrews 3:6).
22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
The sprinkling of the heart and the washing of the body are references to the purity which is brought about through Christian baptism. The Christian should stay true to the faith he received and professed at baptism, and maintain the purity which it brings.
23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
This “confession” would be the baptismal acknowledgment of Jesus as Son of God.
Gospel - Luke 24:46-53
Like was said in the introduction to our first reading, Luke and Acts form two continuous volumes of the history of the Church. The ascension, which we celebrate on this day, forms the hinge point between the two volumes. In our first reading, we heard the beginning of the Book of Acts where the ascension is recounted and here in our Gospel reading we hear the end of the Gospel of Luke where this same ascension is described.
46 And he [Jesus] said to them [His disciples], “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations,
How is it possible for the Messiah to preach to all nations? He will do it through His Church. Jesus is Messiah in a real and total sense because God’s salvation goes to the ends of the earth through Him.
beginning from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is the center of Judaism because it contains the Temple; since Jesus fulfills the Law and the prophets, it becomes the geographic center from which Christianity spreads.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
In order for a fact to be attested to in court, two or more witnesses are required. Jesus always has witnesses when he approaches a life and death (including eternal life) situation. Here, this statement is addressed to more than just the eleven. Luke 24:9 says “when they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others” and Luke 24:33 says “there they found the eleven and those with them, assembled together.”
49 And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
The Holy Spirit
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany,
The Mount of Olives is near Bethany. Acts 1:12 infers that this is where the ascension took place.
raised his hands, and blessed them.
This is the only place in Saint Luke’s gospel where Jesus blesses people. There seems to be a conscious allusion to Sirach 50:20-24. Is there a significance like the blessing Abraham received from the priest-king Melchizadek (Shem)? I think so.
51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They did him homage
This is the first and only time Luke says that the disciples worship Jesus. Compare this with the first reading: this reading ends with worship; Acts shows that they must leave the posture of worship and travel with the Good News.
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
The revelation we celebrate on this day is that the direct experience of God revealed to men and women in Jesus of Nazareth continues to be experienced when the Body of Christ, the Church, gathers in witness, love and mission. Jesus brought power and hope to people. As He talked, healed, and loved them, they felt the direct presence of God. To be in the company of Jesus was to be in the company of God. Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. Those appearances were more than their seeing a vision or acknowledging that death could not destroy the Lord. In His appearances Jesus told His disciples that the faithful would continue to experience His presence even though they could no longer see Him. The Holy Spirit would make them aware and sensitive to that presence in the Eucharist. They would feel the same healing power freeing them from their enslavement to sin and guilt. Their vision of life would be enlarged as they grew in their covenant relationship with God.
To say “My life has significance because I am a child of God called to carry out His will in my life” is to make a statement that opens one’s life to new power and possibilities. Experiencing Jesus the Christ, in other words, was not to cease with the death of Jesus or with the last of His resurrection appearances. The experience would continue among the faithful. The power and presence of Christ are eternal experiences, not limited to time and space. The presence of Christ is as much our experience as it was the experience of the disciples. Christ “reigns” eternally with God, the creative power who calls us into being. As we say in the Creed “...He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
1st Reading - Acts 1:1-11
Acts has been called “The Gospel of Luke, Volume 2” in that it takes over from where St. Luke stopped when writing his gospel with the ascension forming the hinge point. St. Luke, an educated man, a physician by profession, was meticulous and orderly. He sets out in Acts, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to prove the truth of the Apostles’ teaching and show how rapidly that teaching spread. It recounts the Church’s expansion which, particularly among the Gentiles, was marked by miracles; thus bearing out what our Lord had foretold: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Today’s reading, which documents Jesus’ ascension, records Jesus’ last words to His disciples which include this foretelling of the expansion of His Church.
1:1 In the first book,
The Gospel of Luke
Theophilus,
Who Theophilus is, is unknown although both Luke’s gospel and this book are addressed to him.
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered,
Greek: paschein - usually translated as “passion,” is translated here as “suffered.” It refers to Jesus’ integral passion-death experience.
appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Forty in Hebrew numerology is a number representing transition/change. Forty years is a generation; the flood was 40 days and 40 nights; Moses was on the mountain for 40 days; the Hebrews wandered in the desert for 40 years; Jesus was tempted for 40 days.
4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;
Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy
Spirit.”
This refers back to John’s statement in Luke 3:16 (or Matthew 3:11) “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” This precisely demonstrates the prophecy’s fulfillment and makes John the Baptist the herald of the Church as well as of the Messiah.
6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
This question is of present concern to Luke’s community. What is being stressed as the disciple’s mistaken hope is not a “worldly, nationalistic” kingdom as much as a hope of an immediate parousia, to which the outpouring of the Spirit was to lead.
7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
It is the preoccupation of an impending parousia that Jesus corrects, not the idea of Israel’s restoration (see also Mark 13:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).
8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,
The Spirit is the substitute for the parousia. The Spirit is the principle of continued Christian existence in a new era of sacred history, the era of the Church and mission.
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jerusalem is the geographic center of sacred history and the influence of the Church will spread in three geographical stages: Jerusalem; Judea and Samaria; the ends of the earth.
9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
A visible departure
10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
Luke does everything in twos. This brings to mind the finding of the empty tomb in Luke 24:4 and the transfiguration in Luke 9:30; especially the empty tomb where they ask “why do you look for the living among the dead?”
11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
The ascension is a prefiguration of the parousia.
2nd Reading - Ephesians 1:17-23
Toward the end of his second missionary journey (in the year A.D. 52) Saint Paul stayed for a while in Ephesus (Acts 18:19ff), one of the great cities of Asia Minor, where he preached and founded the church to which this letter is addressed. Shortly after this, a distinguished personality, Apollos, appeared in Ephesus; he received instruction from Aquila and his wife Priscilla, two disciples of Paul (Acts 18:24-26) and he, in turn, prepared the ground for Paul’s preaching on his third missionary journey (54-56). Paul’s visit was not without incident (Acts 19-20): he was forced to leave the city because of an uproar caused by Demetrius the silversmith. Paul did not forget the Ephesians, however, and, from Rome, he wrote them this letter. Paul’s main purpose in writing seems to be to explore the great mystery of the redemption, of which Christ Himself is the cornerstone, the foundation of the entire spiritual building into whom all Christians should be built. What we hear described in today’s reading is Jesus’ position in heaven after the ascension.
17 [May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
The phrase “Father of glory” occurs only here in the New Testament, but Acts 7:2 calls Him
“God of glory” and 1 Corinthians 2:8 says “Lord of glory.”
give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
Not knowledge merely of God’s plan, but knowledge “of Him”, an experience of God’s great love for men in Christ that would be visibly shown in a true brotherhood of men.
“It is this God of the incarnate man who is the Father of glory, wisdom and truth, who gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to those who believe in His Son so that they may become wise and contemplate the glory of the Lord with unveiled face (2 Corinthians 3:18). When this wisdom and revelation have made them wise and opened to them the mysteries that were hidden, it follows at once that they have the eyes of their heart enlightened.” [Saint Jerome (A.D. 386), Commentaries on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 1,1,15].
18 May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy one
The members of His Church. Not only the Church on earth (Church Militant) but in purgatory (Church Suffering) and in heaven as well (Church Triumphant).
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe,
God’s mighty power overcomes humanly impossible obstacles.
in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
The raising and seating are one continuous action.
21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
Angelic beings who were thought to control the world and who were created through the wisdom of God.
“He says not merely ‘above’ but ‘far above.’ For God is higher than the powers on high. So He led Him up there, the very one who shared our lowly humanity. He led Him from the lowest depth to the highest sovereignty, beyond which there is no higher honor. ‘Above every authority,’ he says: not merely compared with this or that. ... What gnats are compared with humans, so is the whole creation compared with God.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D. 392-397), Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 3,1,20-23].
and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
No present or future force or power can block God’s work.
22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
The Church is the body, Christ is the head.
“Oh, how high He has raised the Church! For, as He were lifting it by some stage machine, He has led it up to a great height and installed it on that throne. For where the head is, there is the body also.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D. 392-397), Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 3,1,20-23].
Alternate 2nd Reading - Hebrews 9:24-28, 10:19-23
It is most probable that the Hebrews to whom this epistle is addressed were Christians of Jewish background who were very familiar with both the Greek language and with the culture of the Hebrews, particularly the ceremonies of Mosaic worship. This has caused many commentators to suggest that possibly these “Hebrews” were converts from priestly service.
The main purpose of this epistle is to show the superiority of Christianity over the Old Covenant, the Mosaic worship. To do this, the epistle focuses on Jesus’ priesthood and sacrifice and how they are superior to those of the Levitical priesthood. The reading which we hear today focuses on the Blood of Christ and His once-for-all sacrifice on the altar of the Cross.
9:24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
The tabernacle made by Moses and the Temple erected by Solomon were both copies of the Temple in heaven (Exodus 25:9).
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Romans 8:34
25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world.
If Jesus’ sacrifice had not been definitive and final, but had demanded constant repetition as did the annually repeated sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, he would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. The sacred author here rejects any notion of a repeated sacrifice of Jesus, but not the eternal continuance of His one sacrifice, a continuance we see in Revelation 5:6.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
The coming of the Messiah brought about the end of the present age and the inauguration of the “age to come.”
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
The sacred author points out that the heavenly sanctuary has always existed, but the heavenly sacrifice, which is now eternally present in the heavenly sanctuary, entered into the eternal order at a determined point in time. It was Jesus’ sacrifice on the altar of the cross which opened heaven so that all could approach God and obtain forgiveness for their sins.
27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
These verses look at three basic truths of Christian belief about the last things:
1) the unchanging covenant curse of death;
2) the fact that there is a judgment immediately after death; and 3) the second coming of Christ in glory.
The second coming of Christ will not be for the purpose of redeeming men from sin but to bring salvation, that is, glory, to those who placed their hope in Him. Christ will come into the world for a second time but not as Redeemer, for His sacrifice on the altar of the cross has already accomplished this once for all; rather, he will come as Judge of all. His coming is “appointed” and is as necessary as death and judgment. The three basic truths of Christian belief are closely interconnected. Immediately after death everyone will be judged on the conduct of his or her life (see 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). We eagerly await His coming because our purpose in living this life is to be with Him in the next one.
10:19 Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 20 by the new and living way
Literally “the recently sacrificed and living way.” This is a figurative expression indicating that Christ is the way, and that this way has been recently opened, has been sacrificed and is alive.
he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,
Not only the veil in the Temple, but the barrier erected by God to prevent entry into the garden (heaven) after the sin of Adam. It was through His flesh, His sacrifice, that the gates of heaven were opened.
21 and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,”
The “house of God” is the Christian community (see Hebrews 3:6).
22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
The sprinkling of the heart and the washing of the body are references to the purity which is brought about through Christian baptism. The Christian should stay true to the faith he received and professed at baptism, and maintain the purity which it brings.
23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
This “confession” would be the baptismal acknowledgment of Jesus as Son of God.
Gospel - Luke 24:46-53
Like was said in the introduction to our first reading, Luke and Acts form two continuous volumes of the history of the Church. The ascension, which we celebrate on this day, forms the hinge point between the two volumes. In our first reading, we heard the beginning of the Book of Acts where the ascension is recounted and here in our Gospel reading we hear the end of the Gospel of Luke where this same ascension is described.
46 And he [Jesus] said to them [His disciples], “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations,
How is it possible for the Messiah to preach to all nations? He will do it through His Church. Jesus is Messiah in a real and total sense because God’s salvation goes to the ends of the earth through Him.
beginning from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is the center of Judaism because it contains the Temple; since Jesus fulfills the Law and the prophets, it becomes the geographic center from which Christianity spreads.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
In order for a fact to be attested to in court, two or more witnesses are required. Jesus always has witnesses when he approaches a life and death (including eternal life) situation. Here, this statement is addressed to more than just the eleven. Luke 24:9 says “when they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others” and Luke 24:33 says “there they found the eleven and those with them, assembled together.”
49 And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
The Holy Spirit
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany,
The Mount of Olives is near Bethany. Acts 1:12 infers that this is where the ascension took place.
raised his hands, and blessed them.
This is the only place in Saint Luke’s gospel where Jesus blesses people. There seems to be a conscious allusion to Sirach 50:20-24. Is there a significance like the blessing Abraham received from the priest-king Melchizadek (Shem)? I think so.
51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They did him homage
This is the first and only time Luke says that the disciples worship Jesus. Compare this with the first reading: this reading ends with worship; Acts shows that they must leave the posture of worship and travel with the Good News.
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, JOHN 17:20-26 (See NOTE)
(Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14,16-17, 20)
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, JOHN 17:20-26 (See NOTE)
(Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14,16-17, 20)
KEY VERSE: "That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you" ( v.21).
TO KNOW: Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for all who would believe in him through their proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus knew that there would be powerful forces at work to divide the Church. Arius, a priest from Alexandria (d.336), provoked the first great heresy claiming that Christ was not divine in the same sense that God the Father was. The Council of Nicea (325) taught that Christ was not created but was "of the same substance” (Greek:homoousios), consubstantial with the Father (as we pray in the Nicene Creed). To further our understanding of Christ's identity, the Church teaches that the One God exists in three equal persons—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If the disciples found their unity in the Triune God, they would be authentic messengers of his life, death and resurrection. Love is the true sign of God's presence. The Eucharistic banquet expresses this unity among believers. The table of the Lord is a foretaste of the oneness that we will one day experience with Christ when we behold the glory he shares with the Father.
TO LOVE: What can I do today to bring unity to my family?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, help the Church to work for harmony among all peoples.
NOTE: In those places where the solemnity of the Ascension has been transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Mass and readings of Ascension Thursday are used (May 30)
Saints Marcellinus and Peter
Saint of the Day for June 2
(d. 304)
Saints Marcellinus and Peter’s Story
Marcellinus and Peter were prominent enough in the memory of the
Church to be included among the saints of the Roman Canon. Mention of their
names is optional in our present Eucharistic Prayer I.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter was an exorcist, that is,
someone authorized by the Church to deal with cases of demonic possession. They
were beheaded during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pope Damasus wrote
an epitaph apparently based on the report of their executioner, and Constantine
erected a basilica over the crypt in which they were buried in Rome. Numerous
legends sprang from an early account of their death.
Reflection
Why are these men included in our Eucharistic prayer, and given
their own feast day, in spite of the fact that almost nothing is known about
them? Probably because the Church respects its collective memory. They once
sent an impulse of encouragement through the whole Church. They made the
ultimate step of faith.
Lectio Divina: 7th Sunday of Easter (C)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, June 2, 2019
The Glory of the Son: That all may be One
John, 17:20-26
John, 17:20-26
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus send your Spirit to help us interpret the scriptures
with the same insight with which you interpreted them to the disciples on the
way to Emmaus. Through the light of God’s written word, you helped them to
discover the presence of God in the overwhelming events of your condemnation
and death. Thus, the Cross, which seemed to be the end of all hope, appeared to
them as the source of life and resurrection.
Create in us a silence, so that we can listen to your voice in
creation, scripture, daily events and in persons especially those who are poor
and suffering. May your Word guide us, so that we, like the Disciples of
Emmaus, may experience the strength of your resurrection and witness it to
others. We ask this of you, Jesus, Son of Mary, who revealed the Father to us
and sent us the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2) LECTIO: THE READING
a) A Key to the Reading
This gospel passage concerns all who have come believe in Jesus.
Jesus prays that all may be one. The unique model for such a union is the
intimate bond which exists between the Father and the Son. The unity among
Christians testifies to the world that Jesus is the one sent by the Father.
b) A division of the text to facilitate our reading
Jn 17: 20 – 23: The prayer of Jesus about His own mission.
Jn 17: 24 – 26: The prayer of Jesus that the love of the Father be in the disciples.
Jn 17: 24 – 26: The prayer of Jesus that the love of the Father be in the disciples.
c) The Text - John 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray
not only for these, 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 also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have
given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in
them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as 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 before
the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know
you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your
name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in
them and I in them."
3) A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
So that the Word of God can penetrate our hearts and enlighten
our lives.
4) SOME QUESTIONS
To assist our meditation and prayer.
During the reading of this Gospel passage, what impression of
Jesus did you formulate?
Did you experience Jesus’ immense desire for unity and love?
Bishop Don Pedro Casaldáliga once said “the Trinity is truly the best community.” In your community, can you see any sign of the Trinity?
Ecumenism: What does it mean? Am I interested in ecumenism?
Love: What type of love does the world propose? Is it compatible with the love taught by Christ?
Did you experience Jesus’ immense desire for unity and love?
Bishop Don Pedro Casaldáliga once said “the Trinity is truly the best community.” In your community, can you see any sign of the Trinity?
Ecumenism: What does it mean? Am I interested in ecumenism?
Love: What type of love does the world propose? Is it compatible with the love taught by Christ?
5) FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO GO DEEPER INTO THE TEXT
a) The Context
Today’s Gospel gives us the third and last part of the Priestly
Prayer, in which Jesus looks toward the future and manifests His great desire
for unity among us, His disciples, and that all may remain in the love which
unifies, because without love and without unity we do not deserve credibility.
b)
A commentary on the text
John 17:20-23: The prayer of Jesus about His own
Mission: So that the world may believe it was You who sent Me.
Looking into the horizon, Jesus prays to the Father:
“I pray not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will
come to believe in Me. May they all be one, just as, Father, You are in Me and
I am in You, so that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe it
was You who sent Me.” Here, Jesus displaysHis concern for
unity which should exist in the communities. Unity does not mean uniformity,
but rather to remain in love in spite of tension and
conflict. Such love reflects the profound
unity which exists between Jesus and the Father. The unity in love
revealed in the Trinity is the model
for all communities. By loving one
another, communities reveal to the world the profound message of
Jesus. People said of the first Christians “see how they love one another!” The
present day division among Jews, Christians and Moslems, all of whomcame
from Abraham, is truly tragic. Even more tragic is the division
among us Christians who claim to believe in Jesus. If we are
divided, we have no credibility. Ecumenism is at the center of
Jesus’ farewell prayer to the Father. It is His testament. To be a
Christian and not be ecumenical is a contradiction. We are violating the
final wish of Jesus.
John 17:24-26: The prayer of Jesus that the love of the
Father be in the disciples: “So that the love with which You loved Me may be in
them.”
Jesus does not want to remain alone. He says “Father, I want
those You have given Me to be with Me where I am so that they may always see My
glory, which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of
the world.” Jesus is happy when we are all together with Him. He wants His
disciples to have the same experience of the Father which He enjoyed. He wants
us to know the Father and be known by Him. In the Bible, knowledge of God is
not merely rational and theoretical but an experience of the living God who
loves His people.
c)
Further Information
That they may be one as We are one. (Unity and Trinity in the
Gospel of John)
The Gospel of John helps us to understand the mystery of the
Trinity, the communion of Father, Son and Spirit. Of the four
Gospels, John stresses the profound unity that exists among the Father,
Son and Spirit. From the text, we see that the mission of the Son is the
supreme manifestation of the love of the Father (Jn 17: 6-8). This
unity between the Father and the Son makes Jesus exclaim “the Father and I are
one” (Jn 10:30). Between Son and Father, there is such unity that one who
sees the face of one sees the face of the other. Fulfilling this mission of
unity, Jesus reveals the Spirit. The spirit of Truth comes from the Father (Jn
15:26). At the bidding of the Son (Jn 14:16), the Father sends the Spirit to
each one of us in such a way that He will remain with us, encouraging us and
giving us strength. The Spirit also comes to us from the Son (Jn 16:7-8). Thus,
the Spirit of Truth, who journeys with us, is the communication of the profound
unity which exists between the Father and the Son (Jn 15:26-27). The Spirit
cannot communicate a truth which is different from the truth of the Son.
Everything which is in relationship with the mystery of the Son, the Spirit
makes known to us (Jn 16:13-14). This experience of unity in God was very
strong in the communities of the Beloved Disciple. The love which unites the
Divine Persons allows us to experience God through union with people in a
community of love. This was also the experience of the first communities
in which love was a sign of God’s presence in their midst (Jn
13:34-35). This love builds unity in the community (Jn 17:21). They looked at
the unity in God in order to understand the unity among themselves.
6. PRAYER (Psalm 8)
O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the world!
Whoever keeps singing of your majesty higher than the heavens,
Even through the mouths of children, or of babes in arms,
you make him a fortress,
firm against your foes, to subdue the enemy and the rebel.
Whoever keeps singing of your majesty higher than the heavens,
Even through the mouths of children, or of babes in arms,
you make him a fortress,
firm against your foes, to subdue the enemy and the rebel.
I look up at your heavens, shaped by your fingers,
at the moon and the stars you set firm.
What are human beings that you spare a thought for them,
or the child of Adam that you care for him?
at the moon and the stars you set firm.
What are human beings that you spare a thought for them,
or the child of Adam that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god,
you have crowned him with glory and beauty,
you have crowned him with glory and beauty,
made him lord of
the works of your hands,
put all things under his feet,
put all things under his feet,
sheep and cattle, all of them, and even the wild beasts,
birds in the sky, fish in the sea, when he makes his way across the ocean.
Yahweh our Lord,
how majestic your name throughout the world!
birds in the sky, fish in the sea, when he makes his way across the ocean.
Yahweh our Lord,
how majestic your name throughout the world!
7. FINAL PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your word which has helped us
better understand the will of the Father. Grant that your Spirit enlightens our
actions and gives us the strength to carry out what Your word has made us see.
Grant that we, like Mary Your Mother, can, not only listen to, but also put
Your Word into practice. You who live and reign together with the Father, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
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