Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Kathy Weider
Opening Prayer
Gracious God of all creation, of all that is good and holy, be with us this day. As we seek to grow in Your love, please open our minds and hearts to receive Your word to us in the scriptures. Move within us as we anticipate Pentecost and open us to receive the coming of Your Holy Spirit. We ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Gospel
John 17: 20 – 22
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in You, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory You gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them, and You in me.”
Reflection
Just a few days ago we celebrated Ascension Thursday. The Gospel from that Mass told us the story: “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them, he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.”
Today we stand between the Ascension and Pentecost. Once again we hear references to looking up. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how Stephen was stoned to death, the first martyr of the Church. The reading begins: “Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”
Today’s Gospel from John begins: “Lifting up his eyes to the heavens, Jesus prayed…” Jesus then goes on to pray “that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in You.” Clearly these references to looking up, raising one’s eyes, and looking up to heaven – all point to where one can find God.
I’m reminded of a true event that took place in our Motherhouse Chapel a few months ago. A family was visiting, a Mom and Dad with two boys who looked to be maybe two and four years old. Eli, the younger son, was fascinated by the angled ceiling with dozens of in-set lights, and four large skylights. Throughout the first half of Mass, he kept standing up, looking up, and silently pointing up with his tiny index finger. All the while his face was beaming with the wonder and pure delight that only young children experience. I was trying to listen to the homily. It was a good one on Anna and Simeon. But I was more taken by the message of the child who uttered no words – yet eloquently preached the essence of the readings: Look up! See the beauty. Then, filled with wonder, recognize our ever-present loving God!
So today, let us be full of joyful anticipation as we look forward to celebrating Pentecost, remembering that the Holy Spirit is still alive and well, active – and all we need to do is look up, or look within our own hearts.
Closing Prayer
Thank You, dear God, for Your constant unconditional love. What a generous and incredible gift that is! Help us to believe that You are always with us and nothing whatsoever can separate us from You. Open our hearts to Your Holy Spirit and fill us with Your love as we try to serve those who are poor and marginalized. We pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
