Word to the Wise
Thursday, May 25, 2017 - 6th Week of Easter - Thurs
[Acts 18:1-8 and John 16:16-20]THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017. THURSDAY IN THE SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [In most dioceses in the USA, the feast of the Ascension will be celebrated next Sunday] [Acts 18:1-8 and John 16:16-20] "A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later you will see me." [John] In today's passage from the Farewell Discourse at the Last Supper, the disciples are puzzled by Jesus' expression "In a little while you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me." Like small children, they ask "What is this 'little while' of which he speaks?" Jesus would be arrested and killed within a few hours and they would no longer "see" him. Then after his resurrection a few hours later, they would "see" him again. But the question remained for later disciples because they wondered when the Lord will come again. By the time the Gospel According to John was composed, the expectation of Jesus' second coming had evolved to a realization that the "second coming" was not something that could be put on a calendar. His continuing presence, however, through the Holy Spirit was (and is) his assurance that he would be with us until the end of time. The "little while" is not a matter of minutes, hours, days or years. The Eucharist is a physical reminder of his presence, along with our gathering as a community, the proclamation of his word and our service to the community, especially the poor. In that sense, the "little while" has disappeared. We can rest assured that we "see" him every day. AMEN
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