Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Relationships are an integral part of being human. Since Jesus was human, He experienced the same needs as we do-including the importance of having meaningful relationships. In today’s reading Jesus explains that He is never alone because of His relationship with the Father. Jesus not only enjoys this eternal intimate bond, but He invites us to join with Him in this divine friendship.
In today’s gospel, although the disciples are proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus realizes that very soon they will be “scattered to his own home.” Despite being left by Himself when the disciples flee, Jesus reassures them that He will not be alone because of His relationship with the Father. Jesus often refers to this relationship as being “one with the Father.” This concept of oneness in three persons is the mystery of faith we call the Trinity. Our God is a god of relationship- Father, Son and Spirit. Since we are created in the image of God, it makes sense that being in relationship with Him (and others) is an essential part of our being.
Jesus invites us into relationship with the Trinity. The Father sends us the Holy Spirit, so we can know Him and His love. Jesus shows us how we are called to live through imitating Him, and He shares Himself with us in a very intimate way in the Eucharist.
At a recent gathering at our parish, someone shared that they were so impressed by the gospel passage where Jesus calls the disciples “friends”. This individual commented how amazing that must be to be a friend of Jesus- to know Him and be with Him. Through further discussion we realized that maybe the reason that this phrase stood out was that Jesus was inviting this person (and all of us) to deepen our friendship with Him.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus invites us to know the peace that comes from being with Him always-through our relationship with Him. Just like the Father will be with Jesus at all times, Jesus will be with us at all times, and His Presence brings us this peace. This is a deep inner peace that is present even when the world seems to be falling apart all around us.
As we approach the celebration of Pentecost, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit can help deepen our relationship with God. Just like the disciples in the first reading from Acts, when the Spirit is poured out on us we receive the gifts we need to know God and proclaim His Good News. Through prayer, sacrament, creation, and even in the ordinary moments of daily life, we can grow closer to God as we find Him in us and around us.
What would it be like if we allowed our deep friendship with the Trinity to direct us at all times? Although we all live in the midst of many human relationships, how would this ever present Divine Presence transform the way we think, talk and act? Can we really live in the knowledge that we are never alone and with God’s Spirit within us we can “conquer the world?” Spend time talking with Jesus about your desires and hopes. As a friend, listen to what He might be saying to you about His deep love for you, and how He is calling you to be with Him always- even to the end of the world!
Father of love, you send us Jesus and Your Spirit to invite us and unite us as one with you. May we open our hearts to Your presence, so we can live in peace proclaiming Your Kingdom. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen.
- Marylynn Herchline