June 7, 2011
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
By Beth De Cristofaro
From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials … I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. … Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace. (Acts 20: 18-19, 22, 24)
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. … I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (John 17: 1, 4-6)
Piety
Almighty God, thank Thee for the job of this day.
May we find gladness in all its toil and difficulty,
its pleasure and success,
and even in its failure and sorrow.
We would look always away from ourselves,
and behold the glory and the need of the world
that we may have the will and the strength to bring
the gift of gladness to others;
that with them we stand to bear
the burden and heat of the day
and offer Thee the praise of work well done. Amen
(Bishop Charles Lewis Slattery - early 20th century)
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/060711.shtml
On Sunday we heard Jesus’ send his followers off with the instruction to Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations and promise them I am with you always, until the end of the age. Today, Jesus speaks of the source of both his command and his assurance. He knows that his followers “belonged to God” and Jesus, himself, faithfully accomplished his Father’s work. As brothers and sisters, we not only belong to God but are called upon to accomplish God’s work just as Jesus was called, just as Paul was called.
The Ascension is a time of good-bye for the disciples. In our own lives we experience many good-byes and, of course, some are more difficult than others. I remember the fear and trepidation with which I faced my year abroad in college even as I was excited to be taking on such a grand, grown-up adventure. The evening of my flight to France, my dad gave me half of a valium because I was so nervous. In many ways, although I did not expect it, that year which was both very difficult and very wonderful, was a year during which I experienced the presence of God in a new and sustaining way. At a time when I was most fearful and alone, I indeed found that God was with me and I began a more intentional walk with Jesus that has continued through my life. God’s gifts of presence, grace and faith broke through for me and it sounds as if Paul was convicted that they would break through for him despite the persecution he knew he would face.
Action
Consider a time in your life when in spite of good-byes, you found new life in Christ. Give thanks as does the Apostle Paul. Acknowledge how your life (work) is or is not glorifying God. Is there room for adjustment?
