Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
My friend has a wonderful perspective on discipleship. He regularly reminds us, “this is our generation.” This is our generation to love and serve, this is our generation to proclaim God’s word, this is our generation to receive the Sacraments, this is our generation to evangelize. I love thinking about this concept, as it locates us within salvation history in a deeply meaningful way. We stand on the shoulders of the inspiring saints who have gone before, and we see in our children the hopefulness of the ones being prepared. But this is our generation – our chance to make a difference, our one God-given opportunity to expand the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s first reading begins, “The word of God continued to spread and grow.” The generation of the early Church did their part. Now it’s our turn to ensure that God’s word continues to spread and grow!
This selection from Acts gives specific details regarding names and places. We meet Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark, Symeon, Lucius, and Manaen. Specific locations are named: Jerusalem, Antioch, Cyrene, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis. All of this detail reminds me that details matter! You and I are significant in this time and this place. Individuals and the places they live and serve are critically important to God’s plans and purposes. As I read this statement, “Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers . . .” I immediately thought, “Now there were in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Dayton, OH prophets and teachers (and other types of servants)” and right away specific people’s names and faces came to mind. Countless individuals who love and serve our parish and community came flooding into my mind. They serve in a myriad of ways according to their charisms, fulfilling God’s call in specific ways, yet each one part of this generation, each one helping to ensure that God’s word continues to spread and grow, each one seeking to make the Kingdom of Heaven manifest right here and right now. It matters tremendously to God that you are right here, right now, part of this generation!
I also notice in this text that the people were gathered together worshipping, praying, and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them with a specific charge to set apart Barnabas and Saul. As we gather together, whether it’s for Mass, meetings, classes, or other activities, may we do so with the same kind of receptivity to the Holy Spirit. When we gather as members of the Body of Christ in this generation, let us do so trusting that God has specific plans to reveal to us and specific assignments. Let us come expectantly to our various gatherings, confident and hopeful that the Holy Spirit has something specific to reveal to us and let us ask for the courage to give a generous yes in each encounter to God’s call and invitation.
Finally, let us today pray for vocations, using Archbishop Schnurr’s prayer. You can find it here. Let us pray for our generation’s priests, consecrated religious, deacons, faithful wives and husbands. Let’s ask God to raise up this generation and the next to take their place on the playing field of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s celebrate every faithful member of the Body of Christ who offers their generous yes. And let’s be sure to take our places, part of this generation, for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Yes, and Amen!
Elizabeth Wourms