THERE IS JOY IN GIVING AND IN BEING ONE!

May 19, Wednesday

 

SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER

 

One of the songs used much in Church today says, “there’s joy in giving.” In his farewell address, Jesus said to his apostles that he wanted to share his joy with them to the full. And Paul, speaking from his own experience, says that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving. The Lord and the apostles gave themselves to others. In how far can we do this? And what a joy it would be if we could all be one!

 

First Reading: Acts 20:28-38

“Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.

29-31 “I know that as soon as I’m gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.

“Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

33-35 “I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”

Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. They knew they would never see him again—he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.

 

Gospel: John 17:11-19

Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

 

Prayer

Lord, our God,
your Son Jesus, gave himself totally
to those he loved – that is, to all.
Give us a bit of his unselfish love
that we too, may learn from experience
that there is more joy in giving ourselves
than in receiving honors or favors.
May the Spirit make us also one
that we graciously share with one another
our God-given riches and gifts as persons.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Unity

In today’s Gospel, we are presented with the second part of the “priestly prayer” of Jesus addresses to the Father. The passage expresses the concern of Jesus for his disciples who could be influenced by the powers of this world. Jesus himself has experienced this “evil” present in our world, the force that operates with spirit of lies, deceit, of death. The situation of the disciples is delicate: they must remain in the world, uncontaminated. Today, the message of the Gospel stands all the more relevant. we live the danger of “making faith worldly and interpreting the scripture according to the criterion of the world.

This demands in the disciple a permanent exercise of discernment. Values contrary to the gospel that influence our hearts and our way of living can easily seep into our Christian life. Therefore, we need to ask insistently in prayer for the gift of discernment. Ultimately, it is about being attentive to the Spirit of God that is manifested in his Word. In this way, we will be in the world, without being of the world.

Jesus prays for the unity among those who believe in him: “That they may be one just as we are one.” On May 17, Pope Francis appointed a new Bishop for the diocese of Hong Kong. This Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in the recent past has gone through lots of divisions and factions in the society and even within the Church. After being appointed as the Bishop, a Journalist asked the Bishop-elect Jesuit Father Stephen Chow how he plans to bring about the much-needed unity within the Church.

He said, “I have no big plans, I am very new! But I believe that we have a God who wants us to be united.” The Bishop-elect reminded the people that we must learn to live in unity while respecting the plurality and diversity of different people.

Psalm 133 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live in unity.” Jesus prayed that we could. Can we? Are we willing? May the Spirit give us the grace to become one.

 

Video available on Youtube: Unity