Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 19, 2021
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 299
Reading I
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
Reflection: PRAYER TO STRENGTHEN THE DISCIPLES
Growing up, all of us can recall those final moments of our school days. A countdown begins to name all activities as the 'last' one. It could be the last school assembly, last school picnic, last week in school so and so forth. To give a fitting farewell to the outgoing/graduating class of students, the principal, teachers, and the students plan a cultural program, a valedictory celebration and of course a sumptuous meal. Such moments are precious, as they bid farewell to long years of growth and study in school. To imagine a change as to embark onto new avenues, one must be determined to leave with joy, even though farewells often end on a note of melancholy. Anticipating such a state of life for his disciples, in today's gospel Jesus offers a profound prayer to the Father for his disciples. This prayer establishes unity and growth. While Jesus takes note of the fact that he was with the disciples in the world up until this point of time, he recognizes that the time has arrived for him to bid farewell. He truly knew that it would not be easy for his disciples to not to have him around. However, keeping the big picture of the saving mission, Jesus does depart, promising them to send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete the Advocate, the Counsellor. The arrival of the Holy Spirit would inaugurate the birth of the Church, the overflow of the gifts, and shows the magnitude of the mission of the Church. Therefore, this farewell does not necessarily have to be a sad moment, but one that promises the abiding presence of Jesus in the world.