SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: THE UPPER ROOM

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 1:12-14

Psalm 27

1 Pt. 4:13-16

John 17:1-11

Theme: THE UPPER ROOM

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In today's First Reading, the disciples, after the Ascension of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and went up into the upper room and locked themselves up. They cut the outside world off and united themselves in prayer until the heavens were opened. (Acts 2:4) We learn a lesson from them: those who bring themselves to the place of prayer must be prepared to 'lock themselves up' and continue in prayer until they get what they are expecting.

The Upper Room, also known as the Cenacle, is located in the southern part of the Old City of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. It is the traditional site of the Last Supper, where the Apostles stayed whenever they were in Jerusalem. It is at this place that Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles, where the Risen Lord made Himself visible after the resurrection, where He exposed His wounds to be seen and touched and finally, it was the birth place of the Church in the presence of our Blessed Mother on the day of Pentecost. It is the most important room - the War Room - for Jesus and His disciples. It was an intimate place where they could just be themselves and enjoy the relentless love of their Master, Jesus Christ.

In May 2014, Pope Francis on his visit to the Holy Land, was given the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Mass in the Upper Room. At the beginning of the Mass, he said, "it is a great gift that the Lord has given us by bringing us together in the Upper Room for the celebration of the Eucharist. Perhaps it is because the Apostles spent so much time with Christ in this Holy Place that we see most clearly their various personalities when they are gathered here, particularly at the Last supper. Tellingly, it was here that Jesus predicted Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial and here exposed Thomas' doubt...The humanity of each Apostle is vibrantly portrayed in here, giving us a glimpse into our own hearts and nature, as well as into the relentless love of Jesus Christ. It is 'A Place.'"

Beloved in Christ, we must learn to have "A place". We must learn to have an Upper Room where we can go up into and prepare in prayer for great gifts from God. Like the disciples, we all need our spiritual war rooms; a place and a period to prepare for our own Pentecost. A place and a period where we actually pray for that special favour. Every Christian needs a private high place where he goes to meet or wait on God in prayer and fight the spiritual battles of life. We need a place where we can lock ourselves up and storm the heavens until God opens the floodgates of His blessing.

Beloved, do you have a place where you can just be yourself with God? A place where you can expose your weakness, humanity and pain and experience His love? A place where He can reveal His wounds (received for your sake) for you to see and touch?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we beseech you to deliver us from the temptations and distractions that hinder us from communing with you effectually in prayer. Lord, grant to us the grace of steadfastness in prayer. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe