May 18, 2015
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
MAY 17, 2015
Wherever people live we find those who are in need. Whether it is from the devastation in Nepal, or the tornados in the west, or the tragic train crash in Pennsylvania, rescue and relief organizations are quick to respond with aid. Even in our cities and towns, we know there are people with all kinds of needs: hunger, housing, addiction, joblessness. And good people like yourselves step in and bring relief and hope to them.
Once again in today’s Gospel reading, we hear Jesus praying to the Father for His disciples. He knows that shortly He will leave them permanently and they will be in great need. They will need the enthusiasm, the strength, the stamina to stand up the all those who are adversaries to the Gospel message. We have just celebrated Jesus’ return to the Father on Ascension Thursday and the apostles are now on their own.
So Jesus promises to send them help, their Advocate, the Spirit of God who cannot be seen but can be felt as the abiding presence of Jesus and the Father. That Spirit brings them that enthusiasm, that strength, that stamina they need to profess the Gospel fearlessly. And as we know, that is exactly what they did. The church thrives today because of them.
We see in our first reading today how that Holy Spirit is active in the early church as they select a new apostle to be numbered among the remaining eleven. They cast lots believing the Holy Spirit makes that decision.
Jesus speaks His words to not only His apostles but to each one of us. When we are in need Jesus encourages us to look to His abiding presence, His Spirit in our lives. And from history in scripture and in our own lives we know that God’s Spirit continues to be alive and active in and among us. When we are in need and at all times.
Jesus also encourages us, as He did His apostles to go forth and the spread His word by helping those among us who are in need in so many, many ways. May our world be a better place by the way we live out our Christian faith.