7th Sunday of Easter Year C - 29/5/2022 - Gospel: Jn 17:20-26
Mind and heart
We use our mind to make sense of things, but when it comes to love, our heart is the main driver. Mind and heart work in reciprocity in most cases, but when it comes to the matter of faith in Christ; it is not mind and heart, but faith that is the decisive factor. Love and faith work together, and that leads God. Jesus used our human language to teach us about God's love for us. He called us to learn from Him to love others. Trying to understand a person's love is a challenging task because love does not follow the logic of a mind. A heart has rules of its own. Trying to make sense of God's love could potentially lead to having a fatal mistake, because we are unable to understand our Maker. God made us out of love, and has given us a mind and heart that enables us to love God. Our finite love is able to make sense of Jesus' teaching, but the finite could never match the infinity of the Divine love, even if God allows us to see God face to face. God's love is not for examining, but for appreciating, embracing and cherishing. A human mind is able to grasp some of the holy, but when it comes to a mystery of God's love, the wise choice is humility. Jesus' disciples were with Him, heard Him and dined with Him. They struggled hard to understand some of His teaching.
Before returning to the Father, Jesus reminds His disciples about the prophecy of Him. It happened as it was written,
'that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day' Lk 24,46.
Recalling the prophecy about His death and resurrection, Jesus helped the apostles to understand the present reality. He then asked them to move forward to make disciples of all the nations. The present reality was His Ascension, that Jesus was taking His place at the right hand of the Father. This is a part of the Creed we confess each Sunday. This mystery is beyond human query, in that it requires faith to believe. We live in faith with the hope that one day we will join Him. Jesus' saving mission on earth was completed, and the new mission begins. It is the mission of His disciples,
'Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations.. And know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time' Mat 28,19.
The risen Christ is not conditional on the laws of physic, and thus He was taken into heaven. His appearance to the apostles confirmed that Jesus is truly risen from death. The Ascension is the affirmation that Jesus is truly Son of God. The message which the apostles announced to the world gives glory to God. In this way, God is glorified both on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus is -far away- taking place at the right hand of God and at the same time -near, and presence among us- is another mystery of our faith. He is truly present in his word, the sacraments and the celebration of the Eucharist.
Instead of discussing among themselves about the Ascension of the Lord, the apostles knew that His love for them was beyond comprehension, they gathered in the Temple joyfully giving thanks to God.
For Jesus, saying goodbye is not a separation, but rather a new beginning of a journey. His journey was returning to the Father. His disciples' journey was making disciple of others; The Advocate's journey was to be with Jesus' disciples. The Feast of the Ascension reminds us that we, the second generation disciples of Jesus, are being sent on the mission: Making disciples of others.
Before returning to the Father, Jesus reminds His disciples about the prophecy of Him. It happened as it was written,
'that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day' Lk 24,46.
Recalling the prophecy about His death and resurrection, Jesus helped the apostles to understand the present reality. He then asked them to move forward to make disciples of all the nations. The present reality was His Ascension, that Jesus was taking His place at the right hand of the Father. This is a part of the Creed we confess each Sunday. This mystery is beyond human query, in that it requires faith to believe. We live in faith with the hope that one day we will join Him. Jesus' saving mission on earth was completed, and the new mission begins. It is the mission of His disciples,
'Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations.. And know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time' Mat 28,19.
The risen Christ is not conditional on the laws of physic, and thus He was taken into heaven. His appearance to the apostles confirmed that Jesus is truly risen from death. The Ascension is the affirmation that Jesus is truly Son of God. The message which the apostles announced to the world gives glory to God. In this way, God is glorified both on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus is -far away- taking place at the right hand of God and at the same time -near, and presence among us- is another mystery of our faith. He is truly present in his word, the sacraments and the celebration of the Eucharist.
Instead of discussing among themselves about the Ascension of the Lord, the apostles knew that His love for them was beyond comprehension, they gathered in the Temple joyfully giving thanks to God.
For Jesus, saying goodbye is not a separation, but rather a new beginning of a journey. His journey was returning to the Father. His disciples' journey was making disciple of others; The Advocate's journey was to be with Jesus' disciples. The Feast of the Ascension reminds us that we, the second generation disciples of Jesus, are being sent on the mission: Making disciples of others.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
