The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to imagine the time of leave taking and the opportunity to express our thanksgiving for life shared with others and our prayer to God that our relationship continue to be a source of life even as we part.
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| Taking leave |
In the reading from Acts, Paul concludes his farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus.
* [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.1
Psalm 68 declares awesome is God in his sanctuary.
* [Psalm 68] The Psalm is … prayer that the defeated enemies bring tribute to the Temple (Ps 68:29–32);... invitation for all kingdoms to praise Israel’s God (Ps 68:33–35).2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus completes His prayer for His disciples.
* [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).3
Tamora Whitney shares that we are living in hard times now.
In both the Gospel and the reading we are reminded that the world is a dangerous place. But Jesus, and later Paul, pray for all of us, that we will be spared from the dangers. Jesus is praying for his disciples, and reminds us that he has lived with them and taught them and protected them. He gave them what they needed while he was here, and now that he is going to heaven, they have what they need to continue in his name. And they have the knowledge that they are never really alone. Paul is living that example in Miletus. He has lived with the people there and taught them and protected them. But now he is moving on and will not be there physically for them, but he has left them with what they need to continue. Jesus prays for the protection of his disciples, and Paul prays for the protection of the people in Miletus, because they both know that it’s a dangerous world, but through their teachings their people have knowledge and the knowledge that they are cared for.
In these dangerous times, we are isolated and scared. Simple things are now not so simple. It’s easy to feel very alone. I know I do. But we are never really alone.4
Don Schwager quotes “The Bond of Christian Unity in Love,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"Christ wishes the disciples to be kept in a state of unity by maintaining a like-mindedness and an identity of will, being mingled together as it were in soul and spirit and in the law of peace and love for one another. He wishes them to be bound together tightly with an unbreakable bond of love, that they may advance to such a degree of unity that their freely chosen association might even become an image of the natural unity that is conceived to exist between the Father and the Son. That is to say, he wishes them to enjoy a unity that is inseparable and indestructible, which may not be enticed away into a dissimilarity of wills by anything at all that exists in the world or any pursuit of pleasure, but rather reserves the power of love in the unity of devotion and holiness. And this is what happened. For as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, 'the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul' (Acts 4:32), that is, in the unity of the Spirit. This is also what Paul himself meant when he said 'one body and one Spirit' (Ephesians 4:4). 'We who are many are one body in Christ for we all partake of the one bread' (1 Corinthians 10:17; Romans 12:5), and we have all been anointed in the one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.9.18)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:11-19 notes that Jesus included us in his prayer... With love and compassion, he asked his Father, “Keep them in your name. Protect them. Consecrate them.”
Keep them: Jesus asked his Father to hold you securely to himself.He will do it! Your heavenly Father will never turn his back on you. He will never abandon you to whatever may come... Protect them: … Whatever you are dealing with, you can walk in the confidence of knowing that the Father is with you at all times… Ask the Holy Spirit to show how he has protected you and helped you grow.Consecrate them:...You have been set apart! Your life here is not an accident. It is not pointless or meaningless. It is ordained by God for something only you can accomplish.6
Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out details of the threats to the Ephesus community from heretics and false evangelists. Paul separates his ministry from the activity of Sophists. Friar Jude reminds us that our ministry is not detached but is consecrated in Truth through our relationship with Jesus and the Father.
A post by Franciscan media comments on Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Saint of the Day for May 27, noting that laboring patiently, Augustine wisely heeded the missionary principles—quite enlightened for the times—suggested by Pope Gregory: purify rather than destroy pagan temples and customs; let pagan rites and festivals be transformed into Christian feasts; retain local customs as far as possible. The limited success Augustine achieved in England before his death in 605, a short eight years after his arrival, would eventually bear fruit long after in the conversion of England. Augustine of Canterbury can truly be called the “Apostle of England.”
Augustine of Canterbury comes across today as a very human saint, one who could suffer like many of us from a failure of nerve. For example, his first venture to England ended in a big U-turn back to Rome. He made mistakes and met failure in his peacemaking attempts with the Briton Christians. He often wrote to Rome for decisions on matters he could have decided on his own had he been more self-assured. He even received mild warnings against pride from Pope Gregory, who cautioned him to “fear lest, amidst the wonders that are done, the weak mind be puffed up by self-esteem.” Augustine’s perseverance amidst obstacles and only partial success teaches today’s apostles and pioneers to struggle on despite frustrations and be satisfied with gradual advances.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments when we come from a social location that has put us in systems and relationships where options are limited, we are often humiliated and looked down upon at every stage of our life. Under those conditions, it is much harder to keep putting our best foot forward.
The work of solidarity is to close the distance these systems have put between us by joining and accepting others as fully human—in our struggles and gifts alike. This work requires a commitment to relational accompaniment. What is needed, according to Paulo Freire, is for us to “stop making pious, sentimental, and individualistic gestures, and risk an act of love.” [3]8
The steps of our conversion throughout life include times when relationships are continued apart and we are nudged by the Spirit to act in Love toward those who are marginalized in our society.
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