The 7th Sunday of Easter | Sunday 21 May 2023

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Today is Sunday the 21st of May, beginning the seventh week of Easter.

Juliano Ravanello sings, ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’. Come, Creator Spirit.

Veni Creator Spiritus

Mentes tuorum visita

Imple superna gratia

Quae tu creasti pectora

Qui diceris Paraclitus

Donum Dei altissimi

Fons vivus ignis caritas

Et spiritalis unctio

Tu septiformis munere

Dextrae Dei tu digitus

Tu rite promissum Patris

Sermone ditans guttura

Accende lumen sensibus

Infunde amorem cordibus

Infirma nostri corporis

Virtute firmans perpeti

Hostem repellas longius

Pacemque dones protinus

Ductore sic te praevio

Vitemus omne noxium

Per te sciamus da Patrem

Noscamus atque Filium

Te utriusque Spiritum

Credamus omni tempore

Amen

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come

from thy bright heav'nly throne;

come, take possession of our souls,

and make them all thine own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,

best gift of God above,

the living spring, the living fire,

sweet unction and true love.

Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,

finger of God's right hand;

his promise, teaching little ones

to speak and understand.

O guide our minds with thy blest light,

with love our hearts inflame;

and with thy strength, which ne'er decays,

confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our deadly foe;

true peace unto us bring;

and through all perils lead us safe

beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,

through thee th'eternal Son,

and thee the Spirit of them both,

thrice-blessed three in One.

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 1.12-14

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

I imagine I am one of the first followers of Jesus. I have just returned to Jerusalem after witnessing Jesus’ Ascension.

How am I feeling about what I’ve seen?

What do I say to the others who are with me?

What do they say to me?

In an upstairs room in the city, we all pray together.

What am I praying about?

I share these prayers with Jesus now.

As I hear the passage again, I give thanks for those who are with me on my journey of faith today.

As this time of reflection comes to a close, I ask for the strength and courage I need to remain faithful to Jesus.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.