Reflection:
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The Sixth Week of Easter
The Sixth Week of Easter begins with the story of the early apostles going among the Samaritans and proclaiming Christ. After Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans, "they received the Holy Spirit." In the Sunday Gospel Jesus consoles us by telling us he will not "not leave us orphans" but will remain with us, and ask the father to send another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with us always.
During the weekday readings, we learn of the work of the early disciples, emboldened by all they have seen, who preach and baptize and spread the good news. Paul has a vision of the Lord saying "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silenced for I am with you." In the Gospels we are with Jesus, bidding us his farewell, in the Fourth Gospel. The reason we can be assured, after he leaves us, is that he and the Father are one. So, we can ask for anything, and the Father will give it to us.
On Tuesday of this week, we interrupt our regular readings with the Feast of the Apostles, Philip and James. On Thursday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
The Psalm responses all week are joyful in this Easter season: The Lord takes delight in his people. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
At the end of the week, the Seventh Sunday of Easter sets the tone for the following Sunday's Pentecost as we read of the Apostles, Mary and other followers waiting in the upper room after the Ascension.
Daily Prayer This Week
This is a great week to try to live in the promise of Jesus that we don't need to let our hearts be troubled. We can trust. He will not leave us on our own. We can prepare for the coming feast of Pentecost by letting the Holy Spirit console us and gather us.
But, what if I do have some troubles and worries? Using the same method of prayer we have been practicing this past month, we can talk with our Lord about our desires regarding those anxieties and difficulties in the background moments of our life each day. For example, when I wake up, I can take a moment, while still at my bedside, letting myself name the struggles I will face that day, and simply asking the Lord to give me the graces I need today. That can take less than a minute, or 30 seconds, as the week goes on. In the shower, and while getting dressed, I can flesh out that desire.
O Lord, you know this is just tying me up in knots. I haven't slept well for a while and I feel so bad for snapping at my family last night. The specific grace I ask for today is to be calmed by your Spirit, and to place my trust in you. Give me the grace I need to not surrender my peace so easily.
O Lord, my spouse is really so angry and tight, and it seems we are just driving our teenager farther and farther from us, in rebellion. I don't know what to do. I'm responding to both of them badly. Today, let me focus on your love for me, so that I can be peaceful and calm in trying once more to calm the angry seas with simple love, with gentle affirmation, and patience that is a gift of your Spirit.
And, throughout the day, we can find moments -walking from one place to another, reaching for the phone, opening a jar of something, walking down a shopping aisle at the store, filling the car with gas - when all of this will come back and we can renew our trust in the Lord's promise. Especially, when we go to bed each night, we can give thanks, that we were not alone this day.
