We can use our days on earth to focus on heaven
Reflections on the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 13, 2018): ACTS 1:15-17, 20-26; PS 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; 1 JN 4:11-16; JN 17:11-19
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the last few months, we have journeyed through the somberness of Lent to the grief of Good Friday, the exaltation of the Resurrection and, now, the leave-taking of the Ascension.
Jesus asks His Father to bless the Apostles and help them in the mission that they are about to take upon themselves for the rest of their lives. “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” (John 17:15-17).
Christ wants His closest disciples then, and all of us now, to understand that this world is not our true home. Heaven is. While we are here on earth we need to keep our heart centered on our Savior and on the opportunity to do good for His people. And, like His Apostles and disciples, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us. Because of the daily prayer of those loyal followers from Christ’s Ascension to the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost, it is considered the first novena. Let us also ask God each day to nurture our prayer life so that we grow closer to Him and serve Him faithfully.
Suggested missionary action: Let us pray for the Church’s missionaries as they spread the message of salvation – perhaps through a novena. And let us also offer our material support for their efforts.
And on this Mother's Day, perhaps we can offer support to a project for mothers and children in the Pope's missions.
