May 28, 2017

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Deacon Kevin O'Boyle

On this 7^th Sunday of Easter, our readings present a sense of nervousness – a foreshadowing of difficulties to come.  Last Thursday we celebrated the Ascension.  As we proceed in that timetable, Jesus had again left the Apostles and Mary –although if we remember the last words of the Gospel on Thursday, Matthew wrote that Jesus said “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age”.  But still, if we look to today’s readings, we can get a sense, that all is not calm – nor, perhaps should it be.
 
Remember, the Apostles are waiting for the promised Holy Spirit who would come and make all things clear to them.  So they are at a time where all of what has happened must still seem foggy to them.  They do not understand what it all means – or how they are to accomplish the great mandate to go forward and baptize all peoples. Each of our readings express this in a different way and time.
 
In the first reading from Acts, Luke tells us in simple narrative that they Apostles and Mary and some women and others all returned to Jerusalem – to the upper room. You can feel a sense of foreboding in how the story is told.  It seems to stop abruptly.  They are going about normal affairs and prayer – they are waiting for the next thing.
 
Our responsorial psalm carries on these theme of hope – I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the Land of the Living.”  The closest followers of Jesus are waiting in hope and faith for something to happen – they believe good things will come – but they seem uncertain.
 
Peter, in our second reading seems to give reasons for this hesitation – not just in the time before the First Pentecost – but perhaps for all time.  His words reveal that a follower of Christ will share in his sufferings – and that if you are, for example, insulted for Christ – you are blessed.  This message written sometime after the events of Pentecost – perhaps 35 to 55 years later.  The message, written then to Christian Communities in Asia Minor is one that permeates the message of hope that all Christians share.  We have hope in Christ in the end – but we know it may come with suffering on the way. 
 
Finally, in our Gospel from John, we shift back to the Last Supper narratives – to the prayer of Jesus to the Father.  He knows not only what will happen to Him in the coming days, but also what will become of His followers in the years to come.  Remember, all but one of the Apostle’s lives will end in Martyrdom.  He knows He will be returning to the Father, and He prays for His friends.
 
So what does all this mean to us in the year 2017?  Are we to be fearful of following Jesus?  Are we to expect bad things to happen?  What are we to do about it?  How will we survive?  Is it worth the risk?  The short answer to this is that the road to Christ is the road to the Cross.  No one can claim to be Christian without at least some times suffering for that belief.  But that is where the strength of our faith comes in.  We believe it when Jesus said he would not leave us orphans.  He, in fact sent us the Holy Spirit – and left us the Church to help us through those times which seem difficult.  What is important when we reach those impasses in life is that we have developed a good sense of conscience, based on the True Teachings of the Church – a real knowledge of right and wrong.  We should remember, especially in times of trial, that one of the evil one’s favorite tricks is to make us thing what we are doing is never wrong – we must be careful not to fall for that trap.  We must cling to the promise of Jesus – that he will be with us to the end of the age.  If we do this, if we approach difficulties and hardships in the knowledge that we are doing the right thing – then we can trust and hope in the promises of Christ. 
 
We are always like those followers between the Ascension and Pentecost.  We know a lot of things – but we may be confused.  What is clear is that if we follow Christ – and are true to the teachings of the Church he left us He will not abandon us.  We can Trust in his Words.  And that is something to think about this week, as we prepare for the great coming of the Spirit next week – Pentecost Sunday.  God Bless.