Reflection on the Seventh Sunday of Easter

When I read the first reading, my thoughts turned to upcoming elections, both ours and those taking place here in the U.S. in November. It is interesting to look at the process outlined in the reading. The apostles used some sort of process to identify two people who had been with them and with Jesus who could be another witness, like them, to all that Jesus did and offer Jesus’ message to anyone who is open to hearing it. Then they prayed. And then they drew lots to decide which one would become an apostle. 

In Loretto we often have very close elections for president, and, if we cannot get a simple majority by the fifth vote, I Am the Way says we then have a decision made by lot. Fortunately, that has never happened, and I wonder if we would find it satisfying to draw lots for that decision, and trust, like the disciples, that God would show us who is the best choice for this time. For us, the use of a drawing by lot is a last resort, and we might have a sense of relief at that point. We have a process for identifying potential new leaders, and I know that a lot of prayer and thought goes on throughout our process. But, in the end, we prefer participation and a decision made by the group to a process of chance. 

That is probably part of our American culture and our Community culture, which is much more about active participation in elections and decisions. The Jews and new Christians were not living at a time when they got to vote or be a part of the Roman Empire operations. Like many people around the world today living in oppressive situations, they can only pray and hope. Their faith allows them to do that. 

When I lived in Haiti I was so moved by the faith and hope that people had in what was a very bleak reality. Today that is still the case. The situation continues to worsen, daily activities, such as food shopping or going to and from work, are now life-threatening activities. 

I imagine there are people in Gaza who only have their faith to help them through very difficult days. They have to believe in their God and know that their God is with them through this ordeal and continue to share God’s love with others. It is that love and sharing and being with others that helps people maintain a sense of hope and possibility. The Gospel readings and the homilies over these last three weeks have all been about love – the love of God for us and sharing that love in the world as our way to witness to God’s love for us.

We are blessed to be where we are, even with the difficulties we face. We have faith, reasons to hope, work to do and others to share all of this with us.

Then the Gospel ends with Jesus praying that his followers will be cared for by God, and Jesus prays, “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.  And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” 

What does it mean to be consecrated in the truth – that elusive element in many areas of life today? How do we become consecrated in the truth? Do we take some action or maintain a stance of openness in order to be consecrated? If the Scriptures and God’s word of love spoken to us in prayer and in our hearts is the truth, we need to make sure that is the voice we listen to most attentively each day. And that becomes the guiding light for us as we plan and make decisions. 

To know God’s truth, to come to understand a collective sense of God’s truth for us and in our Community, rather than our individual truths, could be a firm foundation for the work to be done in the days, weeks and years ahead. But it is not easy. Each of us has had some profound experiences of God and mission that call us to see things in a certain way from that perspective. In the same way that the first disciples made a decision to help move them and their work for Jesus forward in the world, so we are in the process of making decisions that will move us forward together and allow us to continue the work of sharing God’s love that God calls us to do.