Seventh Sunday of Easter
Intro: like those first apostles, we're still patiently awaiting the coming of the Spirit as we gather together in expectant prayer. Called to be one, let us pray for the same unity and openness of minds and hearts which filled them.
Readings: Acts presents us with the record of the first martyrdom of Jesus' disciples. As Stephen has his vision of the risen Christ, he is stoned to death, while Saul - or Paul - as we know him, becomes a believer and a witness to Christ.
Describing the Lord's second coming in glory at the end of time,
Acts 7: 55-60;
Apocalypse 22: 12-14, 16-17, 20;
John 17: 20-
Unity is a theme which comes up frequently in St. John's Gospel, and today's Gospel consists of Jesus' final prayer before the events of the Passion, revealing His desire for that unity among His followers. It's as if He knows how difficult it will be for them to remain faithful to Him and His teaching when He's no longer with them. So He's keen to reassure them that they won't be left alone - He will send them His Holy Spirit to give them the confidence they need, together with the inspiration to speak out in witness to Him. Today we still see many signs of disunity, lack of harmony, in our world where we only need to switch on the radio or T.V. to hear and see the effects of hate and violence. On a broader scale, we still witness the injustice of the richer West controlling the vast resources of the entire planet while others still hunger for the absolute basics of life and survival while Americans lament the fact that petrol has gone up to more than $3 per gallon, while it's £1.68 a litre or more for us!
The obvious lack of love and the disunity between and within the various Christian communities - even our own Church! - bears witness to our failure to hear and answer the prayer of Jesus and fractures His mission. The whole of Christianity is called to grow in mutual love and understanding; unity in Christ is the recognition that while we were all created in the image and likeness of God, we were also created unique, with particular gifts, talents and vision for the sake of the whole body
The unity for which Christ prayed is not just obedience to a set of principles or doctrines, although these are important. The communion for which Christ prayed is a relationship of mutual love with one another which reflects the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As His followers, we'll be challenged to stand up and defend our faith where it's not accepted. That will be the time to remember that we're not alone, and that there's more to life than mistrust and survival. In short, we'll be called upon to take risks for the sake of the Gospel. Each one of us here has been chosen - called - and anointed as Christ's witness. There's no walking away from that! For very few, "witness" might mean dying for the faith, but for most of us, we'll witness to our faith by living for it instead, something much more problematical and difficult, because it might well involve professing the truth of who and what we are, professing values which are so contrary to worldly thinking. It takes courage, but, remember, we have received the same Holy Spirit as those first apostles in the Sacrament of Confirmation, so perhaps we might tum Christ's prayer around a little ... "May we be so completely one that the world may realise it was You Who sent us."
Spirit of the living God, fall once more on us!