Gospel for June 1 2025 – John 17:20-26
Gospel Reflections for June 1 2025
Graduation Ceremony for Disciples…
Jesus takes His disciples to a mountaintop to say “Good-bye” and from there He ascends into heaven.
He promises the Holy Spirit will soon come to each of them. This will energize them to go into the whole world and baptize all nations. I am not sure they knew what that meant. What they knew for sure was that Jesus was leaving, and they were being sent into hostile pagan territory. Is that good news?
I remember a charming event years ago at a parish that had a full cap and gown graduation ceremony …for the Kindergarten class. I am sure they barely knew what was going on, but it was certainly wonderful for the parents to see.
As the children processed out with their diplomas in hand, one of the dads, who was watching his son, turned to me and said, “Well, I guess he has to get a job now!”
Maybe the disciples felt the same weight of responsibility. The Holy Spirit finally did come upon them while huddled together in the same place where the Last Supper was celebrated only weeks before. We will celebrate that Pentecost event next Sunday.
The Kindergarten class and the disciple stories remind us that there is the time of learning and then the time for going out and putting it all into practice.
For all of us, our first years of learning were with our parents. Like the Holy Spirit, the true role of parents is to prepare a child to venture out into the world. Every parent must eventually say a form of “good-bye” to their child…at the first day of school, at the first high school date, at going off to college, at marriage, and perhaps their moving to another town. So it was with Our Lord and the disciples in Jerusalem.
Parents and schools hope that their lessons, conversations, and example will stay with their children or students as they move into new worlds. So it is with Our Lord as He send his disciples forth.
This same Holy Spirit can also be with you for the asking. Pray today for the same power to come upon you as you face each new day.
Stay tuned for next week when the Holy Spirit reveals a source of power that never says “good-bye!”
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Today we celebrate the Visitation and I renenber visiting the home where it happened. The parish had sponsored the Trip to rhe Holy Land and Father Dave remained to operate the Parish. The surroundings in the Hill Country of Jerusalem were beautiful .The Home nice and clean.bright and cheerful.
The Memorare posted in many different languages..over 2000 years old and beautiful. Fr.Dave did a great job and the Parish survived
We had a terrible fire lately and our Parish and School survived that.Thanks Fr Dave for your splendid Vocation and for all those you have cared for.. God Bless
Thank you for your kind words. I remember when the parish took that trip. This last May 27th was my 47th anniversary. Every year …the best!
Love the precious thought of praying every day for the Holy Spirit to overwhelm us with His precious gifts and His Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! We are beautifully praying and we so thank our loving God for the precious gift of you our loving Father Dave filled with our Holy Spirit’s Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!