Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
Both today’s first reading and gospel involve farewell
discourses. However, they have very
different tones. In the reading from Acts Paul tells the presbyters from
Ephesus that he is compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. There he expects imprisonment and
hardships. Paul seems to intimate that,
like Jesus, he is being called to suffer for the good of his people, the Jews. Perhaps he feels called to make of himself a
sacrifice so that the Jews, who refused to convert in masse with Jesus’
crucifixion, may finally do so with his offering.
Jesus’ prayer closes his final discourse to his
disciples. He knows the hour of his
paschal transition has come and prays that its purpose be fulfilled. In John’s gospel Jesus does not express
foreboding about his death because he foresees the ordeal ending in glory.
The Spirit has given both Paul and Jesus its gift of courage
to do the will of the Father. Paul
should not be faulted if he feels anxious.
Jesus should not be considered brazen for having complete
confidence. Both are following the Spirit’s
lead. At times we will be like Paul in
anticipating landmines in the road ahead.
Hopefully, experience will teach us to trust as Jesus does in his prayer
to his Father. But let us always accept
the courage that the Spirit offers to do the Father’s will.
