SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 1:12-14; Ps 26;
1ST Pt 4:13-16; Jn 1-11
WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT
The seventh Sunday of Easter finds itself in the period of novena to the Holy Spirit. We read of the first novena awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit. Today, we see from the readings the conditions that should immediately exist for the coming of the Holy Spirit and what He will do with the church when he comes.
The first reading recounts that after they returned to Jerusalem and waited as Jesus had commanded them. But they did not just while away the time brooding over the supposed “loss” of Jesus. It was not a waiting for building a fellowship of fear and anxiety. It was a hopeful waiting; a waiting in prayer. Only those with hope pray. The early church dedicated themselves to prayer knowing that the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled. We too pray with hope awaiting the rekindling of the fire of the Holy Spirit, knowing that he comes to renew us. We pray to seek his face and his gifts. Jesus comes to seek us but for the Holy Spirit we must seek him in prayer. It indicates our readiness to be moved and used by him.
There is also a mention of the three main groups that made up the church at the time; the apostles, the women and the brothers of Jesus. What was important about these groups is not the categorization but that they were with one accord. The Greek word used is “homothumadon”. This word is unique and used 10 times in the Acts of Apostles. The image this word creates is that of music; where there are different notes played in such a way that it produces a harmony. Before the Holy Spirit comes, we must work together towards unity and oneness. Tension exist where various groups gather because there are various interests. In our Ghanaian Church for example, there exist just enough different groups to create the tension. We see that even women groups are very different. The knighthoods are also very different. We are sometimes tormented by tribal sentiments also.
We must work towards unity as a Church. Each one of us must be ready to lose ourselves of all that separates us. We must learn from Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God…but emptied himself taking the form of the servant” (Phil 2:6-7). In the gospel, Jesus prayed that “Glorify me with the glory that I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). As we pray towards Pentecost, we must have the yearning not only to be one in expecting the Spirit, but to empty ourselves of all that divides us; tribal pride, social status, wealth and position. We must recognise ourselves as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
The Holy Spirit does not thrive in a church that is broken and partitioned according to our tribe, social class and whatever divides us. We must not allow even the gifts of the Spirit to cause division in the church. He comes rather to blend our lives together as members of the Church. The Holy Spirit comes to fill each member with the glory of Jesus. This can only happen when we empty ourselves for the filling of the Holy Spirit.
We read also that Mary was there in the upper room with the disciples of Jesus. It is interesting that the reading mentions that, “all these joined in prayer with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus…”(Acts 2:14). This is so refreshing because we see the mother of the saviour with the church. Mary is the first person in the New Testament to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. How pleasant then it was for the disciples to have in their mist Mary the mother of Jesus, to encourage and assure them of the newness that the Spirit brings to their lives. The Lord has given them his mother to support them in these difficult moments as they wait for the Spirit. Her presence amongst them was to calm their fears and give them hope that they too can be used to fulfil God’s plans. For us too, Mary the mother of Jesus is our mother. She is there to support us when we are afraid and uncertain. Even when we are afraid to get back to God, she encourages us to take the step. She is like a mother who pushes the child into the presence of the Father so that he could make his request. Jesus gave us all including his mother. This means that, the mother of Jesus is our mother also. May she pray for the whole church and each one of us.
Lord, hear our prayer as we wait for the promise of God the Holy Spirit. May his coming blend us together as one and fill us with his grace so that the glory of Jesus may be shown to the world through us.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
