Monday Reflection

Daily Gospel Reflection May 18^th 2020

Gospel                                   JN 15:26—16:4A

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.”

Dear Friends and Family,

            Jesus was preparing the disciples for the tough times that would come.  A person’s family or clan, and the Jewish community that surrounded them were what offered support to the Hebrew people when they were in need. Jesus was telling them that that their worldly support system that they had relied upon all their lives; would be lost when they followed Him. Jesus promised his followers that the Advocate, the Holy Spirit would be with them and would empower them to be a witness for Jesus.  They would become a living declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the Chosen one of God.

            Those who witness to Him, are warned by Jesus, “I have told you this so that you may not fall away.” He goes on to say that they will be expelled from the synagogue and face death. Jesus wants them to know that when their hour comes, they will remember all that He told them 

There are those today who feel, because we are not able to participate in Mass in Churches, that we have been exiled from our place of worship. Within our own families and communities, there are differing and sometimes opposing views on wearing masks or not wearing masks, if it is too soon to reopen stores or if they have been closed too long, etc. So what do we do when we do not agree with those around us, not just about the pandemic, but about issues of our faith and how we encounter Jesus?

            Will the crowds come after us for practicing our faith in a pandemic world?  Will our declaration of Christ as our guiding light, our Good Shepherd, our True Vine be a source of conflict or peace?  The world and even our families may not understand our longing to return.  But when the time comes to return, will we celebrate Mass as a person that has grown stronger in faith or simply as a creature of habit, returning to what is comfortable?

            In the last months, we have lost friends, jobs, and opportunities. The world’s promises and protections have been stripped from us. Our neighbors will look at us, the faithful, to see how we will handle this new reality.  When they look our way will they see a lost people paralyzed by fear and anxiety or will they see a people confident in the coming of God’s Kingdom, the peace of the Risen Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit? In those moments when we fear or worry about what is to come, let us remember that we do not walk alone. Jesus sent His Spirit to guide us. He also gave us a community of faith to support one another. Let us be One in the Spirit, let us pray for unity and harmony in our world, our community and our home.