Fresh Dew Media

 6^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU

(John 14:15-21)

Today is the sixth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday will lead us to Ascension of the Lord. The Church wants us to reflect on what happens to us those moments we feel the Lord has deserted us, when we think that we are abandoned, when we feel desolate, when we conclude that we are orphaned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ reassures as recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah 49:15: " Does a mother forget the baby at her breast and not have compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. "

In Jesus Christ, we have a Saviour who will never abandon us no matter what, even if the earth should rock. He is true to His name ' Emmanuel'.

To prove to us that He is determined never to leave us, let us consider his promises in the Gospel of today:

 

I WILL ASK THE FATHER TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER COUNSELLOR

Our Lord, in His decision not to leave us, insists on interceding on our behalf. He knows too well that we do not know how to pray, as we ought. So He asks for our needs. He asks the Father to send another counsellor to be with His disciples. The role of the counsellor is that of giving advice, especially on personal issues, individual problems, and confidential matters. We all have our individual worries and troubles. In our vocations, professions, marriages, relationships, etc., we need a confidant, one we can trust, one we can open up to, one I can give my secrete and feel safe, one we can tell our dark sides to and get healing from, one who will not betray us, one who can actually listen to our nonsense. The counsellor is a listener. He gives attention, and he is a therapist.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to do all these for us. Let us be disposed to receive Him for this function and feel free to open up to the operations of God who in Christ even through our fellow human beings give us counsels from above.

 

I WILL COME TO YOU

We have a God who comes to us. He is the God who comes to Adam and Eve in the garden, who comes to liberate the Israelites from captivity, who comes as man to save humanity, who comes to us in times of need. He comes because He does not want us to perish, even in our weaknesses. He comes because it is not His wish that we be lost. He comes because He does not want the devil to take the glory due to His name. He will come. He will intervene in our family problem, in the various crises threatening the world. He will come to arrest the turbulent seas. May we pray Him: Maranatha! O come, Jesus, do not delay! Come as you have promised. Come for without you, we can do nothing.

 

YOU WILL SEE ME

The Lord will come that we may see Him and rejoice. During this Easter period, we saw the great joy with which the women and the apostles greeted the Lord when they saw Him. May you see the Lord's goodness, His mercy, and compassion. May His wondrous doings come to pass in your life. May no locked doors stop you from seeing His promise come to pass in you. He promised that you would see His love. May his love be upon you as you have placed your hope in Him.

 

I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF

With the uncertainties and difficulties in our world today, the political manipulations here and there, the persecution of Christians, the marginalization of particular regions, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer due to greed and fraud, some people may think that God is not going to act. Hear His words:

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet till her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a blazing torch"( Isaiah 62:1)

God manifests and continues to manifest Himself and will not stop doing so till the end.

Let us not stop loving God. Let us not stop worshipping Him in spirit, and in truth. Let us never think that He has abandoned us. Let us not abandon Him.  Let us be assured that God is our refuge and strength, that He is with us, and that He is our stronghold (psalm 46).

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for reassuring us today that You will never leave us alone. Give us the grace to wait prayerfully and with action for Your promises and see them come to pass.

May we love God and our neighbours that God may manifest His great wonders in answering and delivering us from the many trials that threaten us through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday

(6th Sunday of Easter, Year A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh