Gospel for May 16 2021 – John 17:11-19
Gospel Reflections for May 16 2021
Time to Go!
Jesus takes His disciples to a mountaintop to say “good-bye” …and from there He ascends into heaven.
Before he leaves He promises that the Holy Spirit will soon empower them to go into the whole world and baptize all nations. I am not sure they knew what that meant. What they did know was that Jesus was leaving …and sending them into a hostile pagan world. 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 their parents to see.
As the children walked out with their diplomas, one of the dads, who was watching his son, turned to me and said, “Well, now it’s time he got a job!”
I am sure that son’s time will come, and when the time is right. There is a right time for everything. That is how you can look at the life of Jesus as well. There was His Bethlehem and Nazareth time, where He was born and grew up. He left there to begin His Sea of Galilee time when He preached and healed. He then left there to begin His Jerusalem time, when He suffered on Good Friday but then rose on Easter.
Now He is leaving this time with His Disciples so that Holy Spirit time can begin, which we celebrate next week on Pentecost Sunday.
Every “goodbye” in one time begins a new time very different from before.
We are slowly saying “goodbye” to our COVID time as well. However, this will not begin a return to earlier “normal” life, but rather a brand new time very different from before. Our lives have been profoundly affected by life and death issues during this world-wide pandemic.
We start anew with a deeper wisdom of what is important and what is not, and especially the importance of faith. We emerge better and wiser than before.
The disciples did not know what lay before them in their new time of going into a hostile pagan world but they had no worries at all because of Our Lord’s final words. “I will be with you always!” (Matthew 28:20) Today’s Gospel also affirms His enduring presence.
Stay tuned next week when Holy Spirit time reveals a power that never says “good-bye!”
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Beautiful words Father Dave, ” I will be with you always!!!” Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee those precious words!!And with the miracle beauty of receiving our loving Jesus in Holy Communion , He is always in our heart radiating His love in us!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!! We can change the world as the apostles did for Jesus lived beautifully in them!!! We need one person at a time and make our world beautiful sharing our Jesus’ Love!!! It’s a beautiful life!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it and Dick and I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you for you are a precious, beautiful Priest!!! touching the world with our Jesus’ LOVE!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Dear Father Dave:
As always, a beautiful synopsis of our Lord’s lessons to his apostles.
Every lesson Jesus taught was of magnanimous importance, and sometimes, please forgive the cliche, we cannot see the forest for the trees.
His life and teachings gave us the footprint to weave our way toward gentleness and holiness, but so often we miss it and stumble. But then, amazingly, he understands, and the Holy Spirit enters our souls. I suppose kind of like the spare tire in our car trunks.
Transcendent love in action!
I fell so privileged and blessed-to have our truth-filled faith … it’s teachings and modern-day educators like yourself.
God bless!
Kathleen
Thank you for your very kind words! I like your message here as well.