Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Both of today’s readings show Jesus and Paul sharing their concerns for their followers. They want them to stay strong in their faith, united as a community and faithful to the Word of God. Both Jesus and Paul share their hopes for their disciples through prayer. Jesus prayed for His apostles, but we are included in those prayers as his future disciples.

Jesus’ mission on earth was motivated by love…love for the Father and for each of us. He trusted in God the Father to help him through his trials and tribulations, leading to his death. He trusted in the Father to give him the strength to face his ultimate challenge.

As we face each new day’s challenge, we need to remember our faith and love of God. Just as the Holy Spirit gave strength and courage to the disciples, we too have received these gifts. Do we truly know God’s mission for us here on earth? Perhaps not. But each of us has a purpose, a special way in which we are called to serve God. We may not fully know it or understand it in this lifetime. As Jesus did, we must trust in God’s love for us and allow ourselves to live as signs of God’s goodness, love and wisdom. We need to allow the Holy Spirit into our lives, to help us live faithfully and keep true to the message of Jesus.

The key to our future as a church and as a community relies on the Holy Spirit. As we prepare for Pentecost, pray for the Holy Spirit to renew in us our faith in God, our closeness to Jesus. We need renewed strength to face the world’s challenges and a renewed sense of community to keep Jesus’ message alive. As we all know, nothing is possible without prayer.

Debbie Wagner