Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 17, 2021
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 297
Reading I
While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.
He said to them,
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They answered him,
“We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
He said, “How were you baptized?”
They replied, “With the baptism of John.”
Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus.”
When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men.
He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
Reflection: TAKE COURAGE
The post-resurrection days are filled with quite a many nuance of Jesus' mission and his interaction with his disciples. In a way, the sequence of events unfolds in a manner, leading to the highest point of suspense and a possible abandonment. If we were to understand the mystery of Christ's resurrection and the resultant effects that it has had on the disciples in the format of a drama, we begin to notice that the characters assume importance all of a sudden. In today's gospel, the disciple asks Jesus the reason for speaking plainly, without any figure of speech. They notice a shift in the manner of Jesus speaking to them, a pattern that they were not used to. Further, Jesus introduces the 'hour' when all will desert him. This perturbs the hearts and minds of disciples, not knowing what to grasp from the kind of statements that Jesus spoke out. In their dismay and disappointment, it is Jesus who once again shifts his tone to being more affirmative, highlighting the intimate relationship that the Father has with him. Amidst such a situation, Jesus takes the lead to instil courage in the disciples and assures them of peace. This was a long discourse, engaging the community of disciples in a framework of interrogation, challenging their belief, pointing to the hour of abandonment, and assuring them with courage and peace. What does this encounter tell us? Even amidst those times of our fear, abandonment and lack of peace, Jesus grants us courage and peace. The world around us may push us into the realm of darkness, hurdles, and hindrances, but the superabundant power of Christ would never leave us abandoned.