All in for loved ones

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with how we take leave from people and places that have been important in our life.



In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul gathers elders from Ephesus to recall his mission to that city and to prepare them for his departure.

* [20:16–35] Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21), speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus (Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament.

The high priestly prayer of Jesus at the end of the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of John is a petition to the Father that His followers be in union with Him and the Father.

* [17:1–26] Climax of the last discourse(s). Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He speaks as intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father and not to the disciples, who supposedly only overhear. Yet the prayer is one of petition, for immediate (Jn 17:6–19) and future (Jn 17:20–21) disciples. Many phrases reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer occur. Although still in the world (Jn 17:13), Jesus looks on his earthly ministry as a thing of the past (Jn 17:4, 12). Whereas Jesus has up to this time stated that the disciples could follow him (Jn 13:33, 36), now he wishes them to be with him in union with the Father (Jn 17:12–14).

Nancy Shirley watched the movie, Paul the Apostle, and saw he was willing to go to any lengths to fulfill his mission.  She asks: “Am I willing to do that now?”

Vanity is my favorite sin. Indeed, I have no doubt it is seeing what vanity can lead any of us to do.  I need to let the love of things die – not that it is wrong to have some nice things but they cannot be idolized or made of greater importance. I need to let my pettiness and resentments toward others die – if I’m seeking forgiveness, I certainly must be willing to forgive

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D., on Eternity and faith.

"We are distanced from eternity to the extent that we are changeable. But eternal life is promised to us through the truth. Our faith, however, stands as far apart from the clear knowledge of the truth as mortality does from eternity. At the present we put faith in things done in time on our account, and by that faith itself we are cleansed. In this way, when we have come to sight, as truth follows faith, so eternity may follow on mortality. Our faith will become truth, then, when we have attained to that which is promised to us who believe. And that which is promised to us is eternal life. And the Truth - not that which shall come to be according to how our faith shall be, but that truth that always exists because eternity is in it - the Truth then has said, 'And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.' When our faith sees and comes to be truth, then eternity shall possess our now changed mortality." (excerpt from ON THE TRINITY 4.18.24.34)

The Word Among Us meditation on Acts 20:17-27 asks: “Is what we do important?”

Yes, but it isn’t all up to us. God is above everything, and we can’t always see what fruit will come from our words or actions. So take a lesson from St. Paul. Trust that as you are trying to be faithful to what God is asking, he will take care of the rest.

What a valuable lesson for those times when we look back over our lives! We fret over how this or that situation worked out. We worry whether we did or said enough. But worrying never helps. All we can do is ask whether we were trying to say yes to God—and leave the rest to him.
Ultimately, God is the One who is in control. We can entrust our friends and families to him because we know that God cares about them. We know that he loves them and will see them through every peak and valley in their lives long after we are gone.

Friar Jude Winkler suggests why Paul met the elders of Ephesus at Miletus. He notes that Paul gave the Ephesians everything he could like a mother. In the Gospel of John, during the Last Supper Discourse, Jesus thanks God that He is going to be glorified to pour out one's life for another. Jesus prays for protection for those who will face persecution.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that just as Pope Francis has catalyzed a worldwide imaginal change today, Francis and Clare of Assisi created a very different imaginarium for many people in their time.

Our view of the people and places that have formed us contains encounters with Truth and Love that remain in our Life.

References


(n.d.). Acts, chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/Acts/20:185

(n.d.). John, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/17

(n.d.). Apostle Paul's Timeline - Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/paul/timeline.cfm

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 15, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/