Word to the Wise
Monday, May 13, 2024 - 7th Week of Easter - Mon
[Acts 19:1-8 and John 16:29-33]The disciples said to Jesus, "Now you are speaking 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." [John]
The liturgical calendar can be rather confusing at times. We celebrated the feast of the Ascension yesterday but today's scriptures take us back to the Last Supper! And we celebrate the feast of Pentecost next Sunday! At least the concentrated series this year reminds us of all the important events of Holy Week, the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in one short burst! The disciples themselves experienced confusion and fear and thought they were committed. But Jesus warns them that they would turn tail and run from the Garden of Gethsemane! They were going to need all the encouragement they could get before they came out of hiding.
Out of all of this emerges the promise of the Holy Spirit, which will make all the difference in the world, but at this moment - post-Ascension and pre-Pentecost, we have a bunch of frightened disciples not sure of what was going to happen next.
I have just attended some university graduation commencement ceremonies and saw the same mix of fear/excitement and feelings of "What next?" The ceremonies encouraged the graduates to go out and make the world a better place. This is what Jesus is telling the disciples that they will ultimately be doing, but they will have to conquer their fears. It will be the Holy Spirit that will help them to overcome those fears. I would say the same thing to those graduating students! AMEN