6th Sunday of Easter
The night before he died, Jesus opened his heart to his disciples. He spoke of his love for them and assured them that he would not leave them, orphans. What a strange term to use. To understand why Jesus chose this image, we have to gaze into our own hearts. There’s a powerful message in his choice of that word.
When Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them orphans, he was not only assuring them of his continual presence; he was introducing a new way of life to them. But before they could grasp his teaching, they would experience the loss, powerlessness, and emptiness of an orphan.
At that same Supper, he gave them a new commandment that would be the key to their restoration and healing. “Love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. This is sacrificial love! This love can’t be constrained by space and time. This is love that will be experienced over and over again “whenever two or three are gathered together” in his name.
The Last Supper was also Jesus’ First Supper because it was at this meal that he gifted them with the Eucharist. He will be present with them not only as the Lord of the Supper, but also as their friend who lays down his life for them. At each Eucharist, they will know, without any doubt, that he will never break the bond of friendship with them. At each Eucharist, he lays down his life for them and offers himself as the Lamb of God.
Whenever we celebrate the Eucharist, he opens the gates of paradise for us, gives us the strength to love sacrificially as he did, and reveals himself to us “in the breaking of the bread.”
We’re not orphans. We’re his disciples – we love each other as he has loved us.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for remaining with us, for loving us, for eating with us – for not leaving us orphans.
