Seventh Sunday of Easter [A]

Readings
Acts 1:12-14
1 Peter 4:13-16
John 17:1-11a

Calendar
May 8: Mother's Day in the USA and some other countries as well
May 8: World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
May 15: Pentecost
May 15: International Day of Families

Quotes
Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us.
US Bishops, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions

Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good, that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual because we are all really responsible for all.
John Paul II

The glory of God is a human person fully alive. A human person fully alive is the glory of God.
Saint Irenaus

Because God is the creator, redeemer, lover of the world, God's own honor is at stake in human happiness. Wherever human beings are violated, diminished, or have their life drained away, God's glory is dimmed and dishonored. Wherever human beings are quickened to fuller and richer life, God's glory is enhanced. A community of justice and peace (thriving among human beings) and God's glory increase in direct and not inverse proportion.
Elizabeth Johnson CSJ, She Who Is

Thoughts for Your Consideration

• The early community "devoted themselves with one accord to prayer."

• Peter reminds us of the ideal solidarity with Christ and with one another, even to the point of solidarity with the suffering of Christ.

• The high priestly prayer of the gospel reading expresses Jesus' great desire that the whole community be one, even as it is "in the world."

In the complex global economy of today, we are challenged to live with this same sense of unity with one another, this same commitment to the common good, this same solidarity with those who suffer or are in need. In the midst of ethnic and political strife, we are invited to put into practice the "call to solidarity." In the midst war, we are called to work for peace. In the midst of injustice, we are called to discern the paths to justice for all. (After all, Jesus prays for "eternal life to all.")

The Christian vision challenges any rugged individualism that fails to consider how our actions affect others, any greed that creates an economic system that locks people into poverty while others are excessively wealthy, any set of ethical values that excludes others from their human and economic rights, and any violence that fails to respect the dignity of other people.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
When have you experienced disunity and discord in the Christian community?

When have you noticed a lack of solidarity or unity with those in need?

Actions - Links

• In the United States, Julia Ward Howe suggested the idea of Mother's Day in 1872. Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, saw Mother's Day as a day dedicated to peace after having lived through the horrors of the United States' Civil War. She saw it as a worldwide protest of women against the cruelties of war. See http://www.peace.ca/mothersdayproclamation.htm or http://www3.edgenet.net/fcarpenter/howe.html

• Each year on the weekend of Mother's Day, the Justice Works Community in Brooklyn, NY sponsors a "Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis" campaign to call attention the situation of women who are mothers of young children and are in prison. Most are nonviolent offenders from poor communities. For information on this issue go to http://www.justiceworks.org.

• May 15 is International Day of Families. More information can be found at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/IntObs/IDF/IDFframe.htm

Prayer and Mediation
Jesus, share with me your spirit of freedom.
Bless me with the freedom to be aware.

Aware of your presence everywhere.
Aware of your compassionate love for all the world and its creatures.
Aware of sin and injustice, of violence and oppression.
Aware of propaganda, racism, and all untruth.
Aware of the possibilities for a new heaven and a new earth.
Aware of the possibilities for an active nonviolence and a loving witness for justice.
Aware of the possibilities for relationship and joy.

Bless me with the freedom to act.

To act without fear.
To act out of a deep relationship in prayer.
To act for what is right and good.
To act for justice and peace.
To act in solidarity with others.
To act in solidarity with you.

Jesus, bless me with the freedom to be alive as a child of God.