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Spiritual Reflection
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May 10, 2010 | | | |  | Sixth Sunday of Easter May 9, 2010
Be at peace with the farewells you must make.
The early believers accepted Jesus' leaving through death, his reappearance in resurrection, his leaving through his ascension, and his continued presence in the Holy Spirit. Today's reading from Acts reveals a lack of peace in the community at Antioch concerning Gentile converts and adherence to Mosaic law. The Apostles made their case based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and end their letter to the Gentiles with a firm and final statement: “Farewell.”
From today's Gospel it is evident that Jesus' fervent desire is for his followers and believers to be at peace. He wishes for them to be at peace with one another and at peace with his departure. He assures them that his departure is a gift – the gift of His return to his Father and the gift of the Holy Spirit. To bestow His Spirit, he has to leave.
Our perspective is far different from that of the Apostles and believers in the early days of the Church. We have the benefit of 2,000 years of Christian belief and experience. We know that the Holy Spirit set free upon the world is far more powerful and pervasive than Jesus physically present in a confined time and space. Think of how a cherished loved one can be present to you anytime and anywhere even when separated by death. That gives us an inkling of what Jesus means when he says, “I am going and I will come back to you.”
May the hope of resurrection bring you peace, knowing that no “farewell” is ever final and love is stronger than death. | | | | | |
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 Our Lady of Lourdes - In 1858, in a grotto, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. When Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. |
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