Day 66 | Sunday, 24 May 2020

Day 66  |   Sunday, 24 May 2020      Happy Lord’s Day
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 The assigned readings for this the seventh Sunday of Easter are: Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; Acts 1:6-14; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 and John 17:1-11.  This Sunday is also referred to as Ascension Sunday.

John 17:1-11 Jesus prays
 When Jesus finished saying these things, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son can glorify you. 2 You gave him authority over everyone so that he could give eternal life to everyone you gave him. 3 This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent. 4 I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I shared with you before the world was created.
6“I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one.

Acts 1:6-14
6 As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”
7 Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. 11 They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son— 14 all were united in their devotion to prayer, along with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
 
In the Gospel of John reading, we find Jesus praying for himself and then for the disciples and followers.  I realize that this prayer was for the disciples but as I read it, I felt as though Jesus was including me in his prayer.  The group of disciples was a select group who were to carry on the mission of Jesus in the world.  Isn’t that what we are asked to do?  Jesus is asking God to watch over us in this world.  We have been selected, chosen, adopted by God to be His children and to witness to the world.  This is not an elevation holiness but and obligation to mission.  Jesus prays for God’s protection over us.  He prays for our unity in mission and for our joy.  How great is that especially in these days of constant change.
 
Holy God, you are an awesome God.  You watch over your people with love and compassion.  You call us to mission as we continue to share in the ministry of your precious son, Jesus the Christ.  Surround us with your joy as we journey through these times.  Hear our prayers.  Amen
 
Today: Missionaries serving throughout the world.