Jesus longs for His friends to receive that love as a part of their knowing and receiving themselves. The “world” is not here “the globe”, but those who do not and have not received Jesus as the Love-Letter from God. Jesus has been preparing His friends for their becoming incarnations of His love for the “world” to whom He is sending them.

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 7:55-60

Ps 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

J ohn 17:20-26 "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, (21) that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that  you have sent me. (22) The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, (23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (24) Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. (25) O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. (26) I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Meditation by Larry Gillick, S.J. - Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality

PREPRAYERING

A fter the establishment of the Christian Community as the recognized official church of the empire, in the fourth century, the weekly liturgy was quite a big event. There was one church building, a basilica; the word comes from the Greek term for king, so it was an imperial residence. This was the usual place for the celebration. The faithful would gather in the center square and process to the building, but was already beginning the liturgy. They would sing and chant the Psalms as a part of the liturgy. This term literally means “work of the people”.

The Entrance Rite was literally just that, they were entering together from an already common experience of processing and singing. The presiding bishop would enter lastly and greet the community before the readings from Scripture. What remains of all that in our present liturgical form is the Entrance Antiphon or an opening song followed by the “Lord Have Mercy” which is all that is left from the longer processional litany.

These days our procession toward the places of liturgy are the streets, hallways, walkways, stairs and floors we have traveled since last we gathered. Our singing and chantings may have been emotional responses to the events of our lives as we walked or ran or crept or drove. We are a church “for distribution” and for “re-gathering” to hear and remember. We might reflect these days of procession upon the missions of holiness to which we are sent and from which we process to our King’s House. The Church is more than a building; it is the Way of processing with the King and His people.

REFLECTION

In our First Reading from The Acts of the Apostles, we will hear of the stoning and death of the first martyr of the Christian Way , Steven. We notice several similarities between his final moments and those of Jesus at His death. What lead Steven to this handing over his life was also similar to what led to the death of Jesus. Both did miracles and wondrous signs. Both were received by some and rejected by others, especially the religious authorities. Steven was confronted for his good works by those who made up falsehoods about what he had said about the Temple and the replacing of the Sacred Law by the teachings of Jesus.

Steven is taken before the officials who ask him about the truth of what he has been teaching. The previous fifty-four verses of the chapter from which our reading is taken is an historical recounting of God’s interventions with the Jewish people. He concludes with his telling the Jewish leaders that they were stubborn and had pagan ears. They were just like their ancestors who resisted and rejected the prophets before then.

As with Jesus, the leaders were threatened by these words and as with Jesus, they seized Steven, took him out of the city and killed him. His last words were echoes of the final words of Jesus, “Forgive them” and “Into your hands I turn over my spirit”. While all this is going on, there is a casual mention that the people were showing honor to a fiery prosecutor of these new believers, Saul. We will hear of him later and often.

The Gospel passage is taken from the last chapter of the last meal, class, prayer-service and conversation they would have with Jesus. It has the features of a “love-letter”. There are the expressions of a deep desire for union. Jesus is one with the Father and longs to share that with his friends and through them to the “world”. As with a love-letter, there are strong statements of being “sent” and a wishing to be received. Jesus knows that these friends are a “gift” from God to Him. He loves them as He knows the Father loves Him.

Jesus longs for His friends to receive that love as a part of their knowing and receiving themselves. The “world” is not here “the globe”, but those who do not and have not received Jesus as the Love-Letter from God. Jesus has been preparing His friends for their becoming incarnations of His love for the “world” to whom He is sending them.

These intimate sharings are going to be sacramentalised by the actions of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Love is shown in deeds as well as protested with words. Love is the exchange of all that one has with the other who does the same. Jesus has said the words, has lived the words and even to His totally handing over to us all the love He receives from His Father. Intimacy results in fruitfulness. All that He gave, He now gives. All that He shared with the apostles, He says now to us. He is sent to bring us to life and that life is our receiving and exchanging with that same world. Reception of a love-letter, of gifts, of any intimacy is not an end, but a beginning of living with and then beyond the experience of being so loved.

“This is the prayer of Jesus- that His believers may become one as He is one with the Father, Alleluia.”  Jn. 17, 22

Supplementary Reading

Before Creation

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight – Ephesians 1:4

D id you know God had a plan for you before the foundations of the earth? He created you to be holy and blameless in His sight. Why? He chose you to be His ambassador, His representative on the earth. God created you to reflect His glory. He created you to reflect His character, His righteousness, His holiness. Think about that for a moment. Part of your purpose on this earth is to be a representative for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That should make you want to walk a little differently. It should make you want to talk differently. It should make you think a little more carefully about the places you go and the things you do.

Are you representing God's holiness today? Remember, God will equip you to do whatever He's called you to do. If there are things in your life that you need to change, God wants to empower you to overcome those things. Receive His strength and might today so that you can walk in holiness as His ambassador and live the destiny He has prepared for you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me today. I ask You to search my heart and remove anything that is displeasing in Your sight. I accept Your holiness today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.--Joel & Victoria Osteen

EL SHADDAI Radio Program:  http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=50&tid=1

GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU. (--Bobot Apit)