Deacon Tom Anthony

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 61

Reading 1 Acts 7:55-60

Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”
and when he said this, he fell asleep.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
All gods are prostrate before him.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

I, John, heard a voice saying to me:
"Behold, I am coming soon.
I bring with me the recompense I will give to each
according to his deeds.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end."

Blessed are they who wash their robes
so as to have the right to the tree of life
and enter the city through its gates.

"I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the root and offspring of David,
the bright morning star."

The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!

Alleluia Cf. Jn 14:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
"Holy Father, I pray not only for them,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."

My Brothers and Sisters,

 We have been blessed to have such a great advocate in Jesus Christ. Not only did He suffer and die for us but every thought and action initiated by Him is centered on us. We are reminded today in the Gospel Reading of the relationship with Jesus that we all are capable of having. This goes beyond just worship and into an experience that is unique and personal in each moment. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts we are submerged into the Love of God and are surrounded by His presence. We are joined by all others who opened themselves up to Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual experience that is guided by the Holy Trinity but is inclusive of everyone where those who have claimed their birthright as God’s children are not refused participation. Coming together in the moment the Living Body of Jesus Christ is formed as Jesus invites us to participate, the Father welcomes us, and the Holy Spirit is manifested.

The only time we can find ourselves separate from this experience is through our decision to do so. The invitation that Jesus Christ gives us is constant and uninterrupted. It then becomes up to us to accept it and receive it. The spiritual gifts received have the capability to bring us to a higher awareness and understanding of God and His creation. It is here where we begin to understand what God truly wants for us and how He wants us to be. It is a view of perfection and a feeling that cannot be replaced by anything on this earth. This experience of being with God can offer us comfort, hope, and a satisfaction that we are accepted as we are with no preconditions or demands. We are loved and received because of who we are and not because of what we are to become. Nothing is earned. It is given freely. According to the standards of this world, this concept can be difficult to understand but in order for us to understand we must know that what is being offered is beyond this world and encompasses the universe and has its origin in its creator which is God. Knowing that is coming from God then emphasizes the point that nothing more important should or can take its place.

In the second reading today we are told,

 “The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
Let the hearer say, "Come."
Let the one who thirsts come forward,
and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.”

The invitation comes from God and we are encouraged to accept it. When it is accepted, we are then given all the things that God wants to give us. This is the guarantee which defines our relationship with God. Everything is for us and for the benefit of us. It is through these benefits that we can experience our lives as God intended us to experience it. That life is the true reality of His creation and not the one that society and Satan has created in response to it. Here we are given a choice. Standing at a fork in the road which represents our life there are two paths before us: One is that created by God while the other is a sad reproduction of God’s creation which doesn’t live up to the original which was the source of inspiration in the first place. As with everything else, the original of something is far superior then a copy of it that was made. 

The experience of a relationship with God and within the Trinity is unique to each of us because we all are unique and special. What relationship one has with God and within the Trinity cannot be compared to that of another person’s. None is superior and none is less important or intense. In the end, the relationship benefits not only the one but all who are invited and accept their own relationships. They all become mutually exclusive and inclusive, We all share but what is shared is different and adds to each other’s experiences. It is through all these experiences, together and separate, that the Love of God is realized.

Deacon Tom