Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for May 8, 2016
Jesus giving the Farewell Discourse to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311.
Paul casts out a very irritating demon from a slave girl, but this angers her owners, who had made money from her “fortune-telling.” The owners have Paul and Silas flogged and thrown in jail, but a surely God-sent earthquake frees them. They reassure the jailer, who gratefully accepts baptism with his family. Now, think about how this echoes Jesus’ first sermon: Through Paul and the Spirit, captives are released, the oppressed go free, and the good news is proclaimed.
This ancient song of praise envisions God as a mighty king who commands clouds and darkness, lightning and fire; a ruler so powerful that the earth itself is afraid. Recalling the history of the chosen people in warlike terms, it proclaims a righteous Lord who defeats the false gods of graven images, bringing joy to the cities and people of Judah.
Second Reading: Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21
Our quick tour through Revelation brings us to the book’s final verses. Jesus is coming back soon, prepared to enter the holy city, the New Jerusalem, where he will invite all those who have followed Jesus’ way. “Come. … let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.”
Gospel: John 17:20-26
As Jesus’ long final conversation with his apostles at the Last Supper concludes, his words become so poetic that it may seem hard to follow them at first. A deep connection of love unites the Father and Son, and, Jesus prays, is given also to the people of God: As Jesus and the Father are one, so will we all be one in God. As Jesus told us to love one another as he has loved us; now he asks the Father to love us as the Father has loved Jesus.