Taking Leave

The theme of taking leave is strong in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. This movement may be part of our personal experience at this time if like Mary Lee Brock we are involved in the academic world of graduation and commencement. Friar Jude Winkler identifies the leave taking of Paul from the elders of Ephesus as he travels to the end of his third missionary journey, Jerusalem, as a response to the call of the Holy Spirit. The sense that Paul is putting things in order before he dies in the service of God is in this passage. Friar Jude compares the situation of Paul to the discourse of Jesus in the Gospel from John. Jesus is in full service of the Father and the disciples. Jesus is accepting the invitation of the Father to manifest the depth of the Love of God on the Cross. The leave taking we experience from loved ones and our companions in school and the workplace is different yet it often contains the invitation to use our life experience in service to others. This may require that we endure some of consequences of Paul and Jesus. We wlll be in joy and excellent company as we approach our Jerusalem