Bound for Glory

Today we find ourselves in the midst of two glorious events.

A few days ago we celebrated the Ascension—Jesus' glorious return to Heaven.

Sunday we'll celebrate Pentecost—the Spirit's glorious arrival from Heaven.

In today's Gospel passage we jump back a month in time.

We hear Jesus praying to the Father.

He says he has glorified God by completing the mission God gave him.

The scene for this prayer is the Last Supper.

So, Jesus hasn't quite fully completed his mission.

He has completed his mission of making God's name known.

Making God's character known.

Letting us know that He's not a vengeful God who is out to punish us.

But a merciful God who loves us.

A God we should call Our Father.

In terms of time, Jesus' mission is just about over.

And this supper is his last opportunity to pray in the presence of the Apostles.

Where his prayer can be one final lesson for them before his Passion.

The remaining difficult work of the mission will take less than a day.

But it will take long hours of immense suffering.

Jesus knows that, but he also knows that he'll carry it through to completion.

And that God will then glorify him.

In our passage from Acts, Paul is nearing completion of his mission.

The Spirit is leading him on to Jerusalem.

Repeatedly warning him that suffering lies ahead.

Paul doesn't care about his suffering or even his life.

He cares only about completing the ministry that he received from Jesus.

To bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.

Jesus and Paul give us two models for fearless, faithful dedication to mission.

And just as Paul was given a mission by Jesus, so were we.

And essentially it's the same mission.

To bear witness to the Good News that we have a God who loves us.

And who we should love in return.

A mission to make God known.

To glorify God by our lives, so that he might also glorify us.

A mission not unlike the first part of Jesus' own mission.

And that same Spirit who came to help and lead Paul, has also come to help and lead us.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ.

The Spirit who came at Pentecost to dwell within us.

Christ's continuing presence on Earth.

If we're not quite matching the commitment and fervor that Jesus and Paul modeled for us,

What's holding us back?
 

Tuesday 7th Week of Easter

Jn 17:1-11      Read this Scripture @usccb.org