May 21, 2023, Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Reflected in today’s readings is an interesting transition with regard to Jesus, that Peter and the other disciples go through from the time of the Last Supper until Pentecost.
In the Gospel (Jn 17:1-11a), Jesus is finishing the Last Supper with the disciples, and he concludes with a prayer. This is the last time he will be able to speak to them as a group before his crucifixion. He raises his eyes to heaven in a formal position of prayer. He first remarks, “Father, the hour has come” (Jn. 17:1b), meaning the time for his passion and crucifixion. He equates the hour that has come with his glorification, and he asks the Father to glorify him to the point of eternal life through the trial he is about to suffer, so that he can pass this blessing onto those closest to him, the disciples given to him by God.
Jesus proclaims that he has glorified God on earth by accomplishing the work that the Father gave him to do. And he has revealed the name of the Father to the disciples. These men were given to Jesus as a gift from God and now they deserve to know that everything that came to Jesus was given to him by the Father. Now the knowledge they have of God comes through the revealing words and actions of Jesus.
Jesus says he prays, not for the world in general, but for the disciples God has given him “because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them” (Jn. 17: 11). Jesus concludes with the fact that he will no longer be in the world because he is going to the Father, but the disciples will remain in the world while Jesus is ascending to the Father.
One wonders what the disciples might be thinking at this point. Do they understand that Jesus had reached his glorification by being hung on a cross? Do they wonder what he means by ascending to the Father? Jesus has instructed them to baptize all nations of the earth. Do they know that it is a part of their commission to baptize? Do they understand what else will be required upon their “glorification?”
After the Ascension, the disciples return to Jerusalem, so the First Reading says (Acts 1:12-14). They have traveled a sabbath day’s journey to reach their destination. There is no dialogue among the disciples and the few women who accompany them. They are in a state of shock having seen Jesus ascend to heaven. They return to the familiar room seeking solace for their grief and the absence of Jesus. They devote themselves to prayer hoping to clarify what it is that the Father and Jesus expect from them at this point. What is the task they face for their glorification?
John 20:19 tells us that they remained in the room for fear of the Jews. They stayed together and shared all things in common. They stayed in this room until Pentecost when they heard the commotion of a strong wind against the house. Tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and they were able to speak to the people in many different languages. Now that they have been blessed by the Holy Spirit they are able to understand what Jesus was telling them. They know that they must begin the mission given to them through their glorification with the aid of the Spirit.
We can witness the difference this makes in the disciples, especially Peter in the Second Reading. Notice the difference in his disposition. Peter gains the courage to speak out boldly and bravely. He even explains what is meant by glorification. He tells the people,” Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly” (1Pt. 4:13). It is the veneration achieved through the Paschal Mystery. Peter reveals that the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension are what brought on Christ’s glorification.
In the apostle’s case, the glorification involves a willingness to die for the Gospel, for doing the work of Jesus without fear of death which their enemies threaten. He further explains that their glorification allows them to rejoice when they are insulted in the name of Christ. And they are blessed for the Spirit of Glory and God the Father both rest upon them.
Because of the gifts that Catholics receive from the Holy Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation we too are called to display a sort of willingness for glorification for Christ. Although it may not mean dying for Christian traditions, it regards the dedication of our lives to movements of the Church and cooperation in its efforts to bring the love of Jesus to all.
