VII Sunday Easter:[C]: Acts 7:55-60; Rev.22:12-14,16-17,20; Jn 17: 20-26
Introduction: The first reading describes the martyrdom of Stephen and how he bore witness to the forgiving love of Jesus by his last prayer. In the second reading, from the Book of Revelation, Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, is pictured as having all the forces of heaven and earth at his disposal, and standing ready to help us in our Christian witness-bearing. It is relatively easy to acknowledge our oneness with Stephen, and to long for the experience of eternal oneness with “all those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb." But to remain truly one with all of our brothers and sisters continues to be a daily challenge. Today’s gospel is the last part of the “priestly prayer” of Jesus after the Last Supper. This chapter of John has been called “The Testament of Jesus” or “Jesus’ High Priestly” or “Jesus’ Intercessory Prayer.” During that long prayer, Jesus prayed first for himself - for his own glorification (vv 1-5) – as he faced the cross. Then, he prayed for his disciples that they might be unified and protected in the face of opposition from the world. (vv 6-19), and finally he prayed for those in distant lands and far-off ages, including ourselves, who would enter the Christian faith. Thus, this is Jesus’ prayer for each one of us. We have complete faith and certainty because Jesus put his confidence in God.
Event: The 1973 movie, Message to My Daughter, is the moving story of Miranda, a completely disoriented teenage girl who saw the world as “meaningless, cruel and stupid.” Miranda did not know her mother. She died when Miranda was only two years old. Miranda felt unloved and was incapable of loving anyone. Then she discovered some tapes on which her dying mother had recorded a “message” for her. As she listened to the words of her long-dead mother, she realised that she was not the unloved child she thought she was. Her mother had thought of her and had loved her very tenderly. This discovery brought about in her a complete change in the way she saw herself and the world around her. She was finally able to acceptance herself and put her life together again.
Exegesis: It makes a lot of difference for us to know that Jesus thought of us, that he had us in mind as he died and gave his life for the salvation of the world, that he actually prayed for us. We know that God always hears the prayer of Jesus. So, if Jesus prayed for us we would like to know what it was that he prayed for us about. What Jesus asked the Father in our behalf is basically one thing: unity.
Joke: 1) A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood.
Trying to make the matter clearer, he said, "Now, boys, if I stood on my head the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I should turn red in the face."
"Yes, sir," the boys said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow at the back shouted, "Because your feet aren't empty."
Practical Applications: 1)We need to pray for unity and serve one another in unity. We must pray for unity and discuss the similarities we share with others as well as our differences. Along with prayer, we must put our words into action. This means that we are to serve one another and to love one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord. 2) Let us try to make peace and unity wherever we are. 3) Let us also pray for all our mothers.
Introduction: Seventh Sunday of Easter; Ascension of the Lord; Mothers Day
Message: Jesus commissions his disciples to baptize in his name, reminding them that he is always present through his Spirit. Jesus ascended to his Father amid cries of gladness, entering into the heavenly sanctuary. We are to be his witnesses, mindful of the great hope to which we are called.
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