Sunday, May 13, 2018
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER ( also MOTHER'S DAY)
Acts 1:15-17,20a,20c-26/ Psalm 102:1-2,11-12,19-20/1John 4:11-16/John 17:11b-19
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
Beloved, before choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus prayed throughout the night ( Mark 3:13-19, Lukek 6:12-16). Among the twelve, Judas' fate was foretold and he offered himself as a guide for Jesus' arrest and eventually hanged himself. There was the need to replace Judas. "Let someone else take his office" ( Psalm 109:8). Following Jesus' prayer life, the apostles also prayed, saying, "Lord, you can read everyone's heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over... (Acts 1:24). The apostles used the method of casting lots, between: Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias. The expected candidate, must have been with the twelve beginning from the time John was baptising until Jesus' resurrection. One must also be a witness to the resurrection.
From what the apostles did to get Matthias to replace Judas by God's grace, we also need to reflect on the challenges or difficulties we experience when it comes to choosing leaders, partners, career, etc. There are also challenges during retirement or death of an officer or a family member. Some of us have made some offices to be like "personal/family property", kept for posterity. We also experience a lot of fighting and insults in order to take over a particular office. Meanwhile, when it comes to other offices, we are not interested. We need to invite God to help us when it comes to choosing people to take over various positions or offices.
St. John continues to remind us on the need to love God and one another. In our today's second reading, we are told that, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another (1 John 4:11). We are all created in the image and likeness of God. God is love, anyone who lives in love, lives in God and God lives in him/her (1John 4:16). To live in hatred therefore is to live outside God. And outside God, there is no love, no life, no happiness. Let us do away with every hatred and sinful inclinations and live in love.
Friends, before Jesus' ascension, he prayed for himself, that his Father might glorify him (John 17:1-10). He also prayed for his followers, so that they may conquer the world (John 17:11-19). He then prayed for Christian unity (John 17:20-26). Our today's Gospel reading focuses on Jesus' prayer for his followers. He wants us to be consecrated to the truth in the world, to be protected from the evil one, to be united and conquer the world, in order to attain eternal life or everlasting happiness. We are in the world (human society). Jesus knew the challenges on earth. We are to live lives on earth which will win people back to God, not to follow the dictates of the world. Jesus offers us joy. Our lives should give joy to others. We should know the values/priorities of the world and those of the kingdom of God. We are to be able to control ourselves and overcome the world, instead of allowing the world to control us. If Jesus, who has the power to command things to happen the way he wants, decided to put everything into prayer, what about us? Am I serious with my prayer life? Have I ever prayed for others?
As Jesus and his apostles taught us the importance of prayer, may I propose, that as we continue with our Pentecost novena, each and everyone of us should pray for at least two people : First, the person you hate most. Second, the person you love most.
Let us pray in a special way for all our mothers (alive or dead). We also pray for mothers- to-be and mother-figures. We continue to pray for our young ones who don't see abortion as a grave sin. We pray for all aborted babies. We pray for irresponsible mothers. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa. (0206864323/0240308878)