Seventh Sunday of Easter

When the Ascension of the Lord is Celebrated
 
Catechism Links [1]

CCC 521: through Christ we live in communion with Father
CCC 787-790, 795, 1044-1047: the Church is communion with and in Christ
 

“Polyptych of the Apocalypse”
(central panel)
by Jacobello Alberegno, 1360-90

Readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary: [4]
 
Reading 1: Acts 7:55-60
 
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”
and when he said this, he fell asleep.
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Commentary on Acts 7:55-60
 
St. Stephen is martyred for proclaiming Jesus Christ risen. He is the first Christian martyr, stoned outside of Jerusalem with the consent of one of the representatives of the Sanhedrin (“The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.”) who we know later became St. Paul.
 
We note how St. Luke draws a parallel between the martyrdom of Stephen and the death of Jesus.  Both asked the Father to forgive their persecutors in their last moments (see Luke 23:34) and both called out to God to receive their spirits (see Luke 23:46).
 
CCC: Acts 7:56 659; Acts 7:60 2635
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
 
R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
All gods are prostrate before him.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
You, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
 
This song of thanksgiving rejoices in God’s rule of the earth from his heavenly throne. The images presented extol God’s supreme authority over earth and heaven. The Heavenly Father is exalted above all of man’s deified creations.
 
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Reading 2: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
 
I, John, heard a voice saying to me:
“Behold, I am coming soon.
I bring with me the recompense I will give to each
according to his deeds.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.”
 
Blessed are they who wash their robes
so as to have the right to the tree of life
and enter the city through its gates.
 
“I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the root and offspring of David,
the bright morning star.”
 
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
Let the hearer say, “Come.”
Let the one who thirsts come forward,
and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.
 
The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!
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Commentary on Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
 
This passage (which omits v. 21 which says: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all”) concludes the canon of the New Testament.  It is called the “Witness of Jesus,” as St. John hears the Lord’s final exhortation.  It becomes a warning to those who hear the Word of God.  “Behold I am coming soon” provides a sense of urgency to embrace the Lord of Life.  Addressed to the seven churches (see Revelation 2:1ff), this witness reaffirms the messianic role of the offspring of David, and is an invitation to eternal salvation, possible only through the God who existed before all else and will exist when all creation finally comes to an end. (“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”)
 
St. John concludes his Revelation with a prayer that the Lord may soon arrive, seeking God’s final gift of salvation.  It is noteworthy that the authors of the Missal have omitted v. 15 (“Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit.”) which establishes criteria for final salvation.  According to Church teaching, all are given a final opportunity to repent and be saved.
 
CCC: Rv 22:16 437, 528; Rv 22:17 524, 671, 694, 757, 796, 343, 2550, 2853; Rv 22:20 451, 671, 673, 1343, 1403, 2853
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Gospel: John 17:20-26
 
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“Holy Father, I pray not only for them,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
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Commentary on Jn 17:20-26
 
Here is the final part of the “High Priestly Prayer” from the Lord’s final discourse. In this selection we are joined with the disciples as Jesus prays “also for those who will believe in me through their word.” Again the theme of unity between the Father, the Son, and his followers is emphasized and brought to a conclusion with: “that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
 
CCC: Jn 17 2604, 2746, 2758; Jn 17:21-23 260, 877; Jn 17:21 820; Jn 17:22 690; Jn 17:23-26 2750; Jn 17:24 2749, 2750, 2750; Jn 17:25 2751; Jn 17:26 589, 729, 2750
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Reflection:
 
As we enter the final week of our Easter celebration, Scripture presents us with endings.  In the reading from Acts, St. Stephen is martyred, ending the peaceful (if controversial) expansion of the faith among the Jews in Jerusalem.  From this point forward, violence against those who are following “The Way” is encouraged by the Jewish leadership.   And through that violence, the Word spreads throughout the world.
 
In the reading from Revelation, St. John concludes his vision with Christ’s own witness.  We hear the words that marked the Easter Candle when the new fire was lit: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”  The very last chapter of the very last book of the Bible issues the invitation to wash ourselves clean, and join Christ at his heavenly banquet, joining all the angels and saints in their eternal hymn of praise. Holy, Holy, Holy…
 
Finally Christ’s farewell to his disciples makes it clear that, even though he leaves us, he remains with us and in us.  As we have heard, God is love (1 John 4:8).  His love for us caused him to adopt us, and leave for us an everlasting memorial to that love in the sacrifice of the Mass.  In the holy time of Mass, we offer our love for him, and in turn, Jesus returns that love for us in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar: “that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
 
Of all the lessons we have learned, and of all the words we have repeated during this holy season, we must be constantly reminded of only one.  It is the one thing he commanded us and the most difficult commandment we are given: “Love God and love one another.”  It is the measure by which we measure ourselves in the world, and the measure by which we will be measured before the judgment seat of Christ.  As we complete our final week of Alleluias, let us pray that we can do so loving the Lord, and praying St. John’s own prayer: “The one who gives this testimony says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!”
 
Pax
 

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[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture is “Polyptych of the Apocalypse” (central panel) by Jacobello Alberegno, 1360-90.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.