Thursday of the
Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 18:1-18; John 16:16-20)
Jesus’ disciples seem confused. He has told them that they will not see him
for a little while and then they will see him.
They may be wondering if he is not going on a vacation. But if he would tell them that he is going to
his mission of self-sacrifice, they would hardly be able to understand that
either. His saving death and
resurrection are so entirely unique that one has to experience them before
believing.
It may be compared to the cars that are supposed to drive
themselves. Can one believe that they
really can maneuver the traffic of a big city for years on end without a
mishap? It seems impossible that they
will not regularly have problems. Yet
these cars are evidently on the road in Pittsburgh. With Jesus the even more improbable
resurrection from the dead has taken place.
He appeared to his disciples just as he says in today’s passage.
We can believe not only in Jesus’ resurrection from the
dead but also in his sending of the Holy Spirit. With his ascension he gives us the help to
maneuver through the temptations and trials of life. the
Spirit will see us through to our destination alongside of Jesus.
