As we begin the first day of the end of first half of the year, your words today, O God, are full of wisdom worthy for us to keep about the blessedness and grace of every leaving, of every departure; how ironic when every leaving is characterized with sadness because of separation, your words today, O Lord speak of lavish joy, of your desire that our joy may be complete in you.
In the first reading, St. Paul is bidding goodbye to the Ephesians on his way to Rome for imprisonment and sure death; there was so much grief among the people and yet, there is the pervading atmosphere of blessedness and grace.
First is the grace of the gift of person, of St. Paul and ultimately, of Jesus Christ. Dear God, may we be like St. Paul truly a grace to everyone with his sincerity of love and service, dedication to your Son Jesus Christ and his gospel of salvation; teach us to imitate St. Paul of being a blessing ourselves to others as we make people experience and feel your love and care, your concern and goodwill; evidently, his concern up to the end is you, O God and your people whom he warned on guard against those who would come after his departure in "perverting the truth", reminding them how he loved and "admonished them with tears" (Acts 20:30-31).
And of course, the greatest blessing and grace of all who have "left" us physically is your Son Jesus Christ. How wonderful that at the Last Supper before his arrest, he prayed for us all his disciples he would leave behind.
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one… 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.
John 17:11, 17-19
Thank you, dear Jesus, for the gifts of being one like you and the Father and being consecrated to the truth - to you yourself! To be consecrated is to be separated from the rest in order to be holy for you, O Lord for the sake of the people; you alone, Lord Jesus, are the holy one and thank you in immersing us into you, making us like you, apart from others in holiness but united with everyone in loving service. Let us not forget this tremendous blessing and grace you have given us before returning to the Father, Lord Jesus. Keep us one in you with the Father in loving service of others. Let us not forget this tremendous challenge too as part of our mission that we always leave your marks of holiness and truth with everyone we serve and meet. Amen.
