The Seventh Sunday of Easter

predmore.blogspot.com

May 13, 2018

Acts 1:15-17, Psalm 103; 1 John 4:11-16; John 17:11-19

Today is both Mother’s Day and the Ascension of the Lord and we can find parallels in the two distinct celebrations. The connection I would like to highlight is “stepping up and taking one’s rightful place.” The Acts of the Apostles documents the Holy Spirit’s choice of Mattias to replace the fallen Judas, so the Twelve Tribes of Israel can remain intact. The Gospel of John contains the words of Jesus as he prepares to go to his death. Before his Passion, he prays for the well-being and the unity of his followers.

For the Twelve Tribes of Israel to be complete, Matthias needed to step up to replace Judas. In the physical absence of Jesus, the church needed the Spirit step forth to unite and comfort us. We have pattern of stepping up and doing what is needed at the right time. This is important as we celebrate Mother’s Day, a time in which we reflect upon the importance of family and what our mothers have done for us.

Many of our mothers have prayed prayers similar to the one we find in the Gospel where Jesus asked God to protect the young in faith and to make them all one. The world depends upon our prayers and I know that mothers are always praying for their children – no matter their age. Their prayers never cease.

They are not the only ones who pray and care. Think about the selfless efforts of guardians, foster parents, and step-parents. They are like Matthias who step in and fill an important role in the development of families. Grandmothers are always mothers first and they often are the primary caretakers of children because they recognize the life of a soul is at stake. Aunts, sisters, and cousins are all part of the caring tribe. Mother’s Day is also a day to honor those women for whom biological motherhood did not come about, but we honor them for their role in stepping up and being present in our times of need and play. We also honor our women friends who have become like mothers to us because of their great wisdom, laughter, and guidance.

We cannot forget the single-dads who are both mother and father, or the brothers, uncles, and dads who form and guide us. Many men in our lives provide us a nurturing formation. Today is about honoring everyone who comes into our lives and has a positive effect on our soul’s development. They are instruments of God’s will who are responding to the Spirit’s promptings.

The Spirit is inspiring these women, and men, to step up and take one’s rightful place at the table. Miraculously, someone will always step forward to fill the void and complete the work of God. Everyone in the kingdom of heaven has a role. As we honor our mother’s this weekend, let’s honor the Spirit who is doing its job of guiding and uniting us. Come Holy Spirit. Come among us and share our joy. Come among us and make us one.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Acts 19) Paul went through the interior of Greece and down to Ephesus to introduce the believers to the Holy Spirit. The community was baptized into the Body of Christ.  

Tuesday: (Acts 20) The presbyters at Ephesus summoned Paul, who told them that he was going to an uncertain fate in Jerusalem. Paul recounts the ways he served the Lord with humility, tears, and trials, but imprisonment and hardships await him.

Wednesday: (Acts 20) Paul prays for the whole flock and he prays for them because he knows adversaries will take advantage of Paul’s absence. When Paul finished speaking, the people wept loudly and threw their arms around him and kissed him. 

Thursday: (Acts 22) Paul is brought to trial. The Pharisees and Sadducees are sharply divided; armed forces rescue Paul from their midst. The Lord tells Paul he must go to Rome and be faithful there the same way he was faithful in Jerusalem. 

Friday (Acts 25) King Agrippa hears Paul’s case and determines that Paul is to be tried in Jerusalem, but Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals for the Emperor’s decision. 

Saturday (Acts 28) When Paul entered Rome, he was allowed to live by himself. He called together the leaders of the Jews to let them know the charges brought against them. He told them his story. He remained for two years in his lodgings and received all who came to him without hindrance as he proclaimed the Kingdom of God.

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 16) The disciples realize Jesus is returning to the Father and that he is strengthening them for the time when he will not longer be physically with them.  

Tuesday: (John 17) Jesus raises his eyes to heaven and realizes it is time to glorify the Father through his death so he may give eternal life to all that we given to him. He revealed God’s name to them and now it is time to see the glory of God revealed.

Wednesday (John 17) Jesus prays for the safety of those given to him. He wants them to be safe as they testify to God’s steadfastness in a harsh world. He prays for unity, “so that they may be one just as we, Father, are one.”

Thursday (John 17) Jesus consecrates them to the truth and wards off the Evil One. He also prays for those given to him through the testimony of others. The love Jesus and the Father share is available to future disciples.

Friday (John 21) After the Farewell Discourse ends, Jesus appears at the seashore with Simon Peter who professes his three-fold love of Jesus. Jesus forgives him and asks him to care for his people even though the authorities of this world will eventually have their day with him.

Saturday (John 21) Peter turns to Jesus and asks about the Beloved Disciple. Jesus retorts, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” This disciple is the one who wrote the testimony about Jesus and can attest to its truth.

Saints of the Week

May 13: Our Lady of Fatima is a name given to Mary after she appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal between May 13 and October 13, 1917. During her appearances, Mary stressed the importance of repentance, ongoing conversion, and dedicated to the heart of Mary through praying the Rosary.

May 14: Matthias, Apostle (first century) was chosen after the resurrection to replace Judas who committed suicide. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter, quoting a psalm, told 120 people who gathered that they were to choose a new apostle - someone who had been with them from the baptism of Jesus until the resurrection. Two names were put forward and the assembly cast lots. Matthias was chosen.

May 15: Isidore (1070-1130), was born in Madrid to a family of farm laborers. With his wife, he worked on an estate and became known for his piety and generosity. His remains are the cause of several miracles most notably the cure of King Philip III who became his sponsor for canonization.

May 16: Andrew Bobola, S.J., priest martyr (1591-1657), is called the Martyr of Poland because of his excruciatingly painful death. He worked during a plague to care for the sick, but he became "wanted" by the Cossacks during a time when anti-Catholic and anti-Jesuit sentiment was high. His preaching converted whole villages back to Catholicism and he was hunted down because he was termed a "soul-hunter."

May 18: John I, pope and martyr (d. 526), was a Tuscan who became pope under the rule of Theodoric the Goth, an Arian. Theodoric opposed Emperor Justin I in Constantinople who persecuted Arians. John was sent to Justin to end the persecutions. He returned to great glory, but Theodoric was not satisfied, though Justin met all his demands. John was imprisoned and soon died because of ill treatment.

This Week in Jesuit History

·       May 13, 1572. Election of Gregory XIII to succeed St Pius V. To him the Society owes the foundation of the Roman and German Colleges.

·       May 14, 1978. Letter of Pedro Arrupe to the whole Society on Inculturation.

·       May 15, 1815. Readmission of the Society into Spain by Ferdinand VII. The members of the Society were again exiled on July 31, 1820.

·       May 16, 1988. In Paraguay, Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque Gonzalez, Alfonso Rodriguez, and Juan del Castillo.

·       May 17, 1572. Pope Gregory XIII exempted the Society from choir and approved simple vows after two years of novitiate and ordination before solemn profession. In these matters he reversed a decree of St Pius V.

·       May 18, 1769. The election of Cardinal Lorenzo Ganganelli as Pope Clement XIV. He was the pope who suppressed the Society.

·       May 19, 1652. Birth of Paul Hoste mathematician and expert on construction of ships and history of naval warfare.