Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 299
Reading 1
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
Our readings today have two departures.
St Paul leaving the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus brought much sadness from those who had been taught by him, followed his instructions and lived him as a spiritual father.
They walked with him and said goodbye as he boarded his ship and left them. And he prayed for them with a love that did not consider his own fate for the focus of his life now was for others. To bring others to know the truth of Jesus Christ and to persevere.
And in our Gospel we see Jesus leaving his disciples.
They had been called by him. They had followed. They had experienced doubts along the way and witnessed unbelievable miracles. They loved Jesus more than anything else in their life. And they too was saddened that he was leaving. We are told he was lifted up into the crowds as they stood watching.
All these men … from our first reading to our Gospel were men who put Jesus Christ and his truth first in their life.
Their love for Christ was the greatest love of their life. They would not undertake anything that would get in their way of following Jesus. To tell others. To inspire others to find that truth and love and joy.
And both Paul and Jesus prayed that they would persevere.
We also should be living that way. Does our relationship with Jesus sustain us? Do we focus on him everyday? Are we on guard for anything that will distract us or take our focus off Jesus?
We too have the evil one sending all he has to take us away from the good shepherd. We too must keep up our prayers to be steadfast in our faith and focus. …and love of others… So that his joy and peace will fill our hearts and inspire us to keep to the path.
Jesus has high hopes and expectations for us. He made us who we are and placed us where we are and wants nothing more than we live the best life that will lead us to our home in heaven.
Let us then look forward like those disciples did and persevere in our mission as disciples seeking to build up the body of Christ. For we too will see Jesus again. And we have his Holy Spirit beside us to guide our steps.
We can have the scripture that we have learned from and are now charged with bringing it into our lives, depending our love and using it to build our future upon. A future conformed to the way of Jesus Christ.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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