The 7th Sunday of Easter | Sunday 21 May 2023

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.