(Note: There are two reflections below: ‘Thursday of the Sixth week of Easter’ is used in those diocese where the Ascension is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. For those dioceses that celebrate the Ascension today, click here or scroll down.)
May 21, 2020
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Readings for Today
Saint Christophe Magallanes, prêtre et martyr, et ses compagnons, martyrs — Mémoire facultative
« Amen, amen, je vous le dis : vous allez pleurer et vous lamenter, tandis que le monde se réjouira ; vous serez dans la tristesse, mais votre tristesse se changera en joie. » Jean 16, 20
La peine, les lamentations et même les larmes font partie de la vie. Les enfants pleurent souvent à la moindre difficulté, mais nous connaissons tous la peine et la tristesse tout au long de notre vie.
Dans le passage ci-dessus, Jésus annonce à ses Apôtres que la tristesse et la peine feront partie de leur vie. C’est une parole très grave, mais réaliste, de la part de notre Seigneur. C’est un acte d’amour de sa part que de parler ouvertement à ses Apôtres des épreuves qu’ils auront à affronter.
La bonne nouvelle, c’est que Jésus fait suivre cette déclaration d’une annonce pleine d’espérance : leur « tristesse se changera en joie ». C’est là l’essentiel de ce que dit Jésus.
Il en va de même dans notre vie. Jésus ne nous promet pas une vie exempte d’épreuves et de souffrance. Il ne nous dit pas que le suivre signifie que tout sera facile dans la vie. Il veut au contraire que nous sachions que, si nous choisissons de le suivre, nous marcherons sur ses traces. Il a souffert, il a été maltraité et finalement mis à mort. Et cela serait tragique s’il n’était pas ensuite ressuscité d’entre les morts, monté au Ciel et venu transformer toute la peine et toute la souffrance vécues auparavant en moyens mêmes du salut du monde.
Si nous marchons sur ses traces, nous devons voir en chaque peine de notre vie un possible moyen de grâce pour beaucoup. Si nous pouvons affronter les épreuves de la vie avec foi et espérance, rien ne pourra, en définitive, nous abattre ; tout pourra servir à la gloire de Dieu et porter le fruit d’une grande joie.
Méditez aujourd’hui ces paroles de Jésus. Sachez qu’il ne les adressait pas seulement à ses Apôtres, mais aussi à vous. Ne soyez ni scandalisé ni bouleversé lorsque la vie vous réserve quelque difficulté. Ne désespérez pas lorsque la souffrance se présente à vous. Abandonnez tout à notre Seigneur et laissez-le tout transformer en cette joie qu’il promet au terme du chemin.
Lord, I surrender to You all suffering in my life. My grief, hardships, sorrow and confusion I place in Your hands. I trust that You are all-powerful and desire to transform all things into a means of Your glory. Give me hope in times of despair and trust when life is hard. Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Prayed in preparation for Pentecost
Beginning Friday, May 22
Autres méditations sur l’Évangile
Méditations sur la Miséricorde divine
Saint du jour – Saint Christophe Magallanes, prêtre et martyr, et ses compagnons, martyrs
Choix des lectures de la messe
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The Continuing Presence of Our Lord
Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord
« Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (Year A)
Jesus completes His mission on Earth and ascends into Heaven to take His seat on His glorious throne for all eternity. Or does He? The answer is yes and no. Yes, He does take His seat on His glorious throne, but no, He does not complete His mission on Earth. The Ascension is both the end and the beginning. It’s a transition to the next phase in the perfect plan of the Father. And understanding the way this plan unfolds should leave us in wonder and awe.
Sure, the Apostles were probably somewhat frightened and confused. Jesus was with them, then He died, then He rose and appeared various times, and then He ascended to the Father before their eyes. But He also told them that it is good that He goes. In fact, He said that it’s better that He goes. They must have been confused. Jesus also told them His Advocate would come to lead them into all Truth. So the Apostles went from joy, to fear, to relief and more joy, to confusion and sorrow, to curiosity and uncertainty.
Sound familiar? Perhaps that’s the way some find their lives to be. Ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and sorrows. Each phase reveals something new, something challenging, something glorious or something sorrowful. The good news is that the Father’s plan is unfolding perfectly.
The part of the perfect plan we find ourselves in with this solemnity is the part where Jesus begins to direct His mission of establishing the Kingdom of God from Heaven. His throne is, in a sense, the driver’s seat of our lives. From Heaven, Jesus suddenly begins to descend continuously into our lives fulfilling His mission in and through the Apostles, as well as all of us. The Ascension does not mean Jesus is gone; rather, it means Jesus is now present to each and every person who turns to Him and surrenders their life to His mission. From Heaven, Jesus is able to be present to all. He is able to live in us and invites us to live in Him. It’s the new beginning of the Church. Now all the Apostles need to do is wait for the Holy Spirit to descend.
Reflect, today, upon the abiding and intimate presence of our Lord in your life. Know that Jesus invites you to share in His mission. From His glorious throne He wants us to “preach everywhere.” He wants to invite each one of us to do our part. The part of the Father’s plan entrusted to each one of us is not entrusted to another. We all have a share in that plan. What is your part? How does Jesus direct His mission through you? Ponder this question today and know that He accompanies you as you say “Yes” to your part in the glorious unfolding of His perfect plan.
Lord, I do find that my life is filled with many ups, downs, twists and turns. There are joys and sorrows, moments of confusion and clarity. In all things, help me to continually say “Yes” to Your plan. Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Prayed in preparation for Pentecost
Beginning Friday, May 22
Autres méditations sur l’Évangile
Méditations sur la Miséricorde divine
Choix des lectures de la messe
Pour aller plus loin – Ascension
Prière de méditation pour l’Ascension
Image: Ascension by Benjamin West
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