I Beg Your Pardon…

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

John 15:26-16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

Opening Prayer: Good and Loving God, I am here before you in faith. Please strengthen my faith. I come before you in hope; please increase my hope. I come before you in love; please deepen my love.

Encountering Christ: 

1. Truth, Beauty, and Goodness: In this internet age, we are often pummeled by misinformation or simply too much information. This overstimulation can hurt our capacity to discern truth. When we shift our time and attention to reading the Scriptures and other quality books, seeking out beauty in nature and art, and watching resources like Formed.org, we are much more likely to sharpen our discernment and find truth we can live by. Jesus tells us that the Advocate is the Spirit of Truth, and testifies to the Father. It is the Spirit that helps us to seek and find Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. May we invite the Holy Spirit into all of our efforts to seek truth.
2. They Will Expel You from the Synagogues: In every epoch, people have felt that they lived in the worst time in history. Fr. John Bartunek, LC, said recently that the history of the Church is the history of crisis! He also pointed out, however, that great saints emerged in each era of trial and hardship. Today’s reflection is a call to mission for each of us. We are called to be the saints of this era. We are called to a sanctity that begins in relationship with God through our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. We will grow in holiness through our personal prayers and our liturgical prayer. 
3. “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”: Christ knew how difficult certain periods of history would be for Christian believers. For how many centuries have we read, “They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” (John 16:3-4) And many of our brothers and sisters have courageously said, “Amen,” to suffering for the Gospel. Some of us have really just started understanding that we live in a post-Christian culture. This reality, however, should cause us no fear, for we do not journey alone. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are ready to do whatever Our Lord requires to spread the Gospel in our day. Lord, excite our hearts for this mission!

Conversation with Christ: Lord, in this Easter season, send me your Easter joy. I want to live that Easter joy even when the culture resists. Help me to connect to you in a special way today as I meditate on your victory over death so that I am empowered by your grace to do your will in all things.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will spend extra time with you by avoiding news and politics and replacing it with silence or beautiful music.

Bob Cohn and his wife Jeanette live in Maryland and have spent the last thirty-five years raising seven children, working in their parish, and singing together. He is an electrical engineer with a manufacturing firm, and he loves to share his faith through speaking and writing.