First reading: Acts 15:1–2,22–29

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them:

“The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”

Second reading: Rev. 21:10–14,22–23

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Gospel: Jn. 14:23–29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”

In other words

by Fr. Chito Lorenzo, SVD (Niigata, Japan)

The longer we live, the more we are familiar with goodbyes. Some goodbyes are sudden and bring a lot of grief as when a loved one suddenly dies. Some goodbyes are expected like graduations and retirements. We always knew that someday we would say farewell to classmates and co-workers.

But there are certain goodbyes that we need to fully understand as to exactly why we have to part from a particular person, place, or situation. A young child might not be able to understand why he has to leave his favorite teacher in grade one and go on to another teacher in the next grade. But bid farewell he must if he wants to learn new things. A breakup between lovers is a difficult thing. But sometimes it is the best thing to do for both parties to grow and mature as persons.

The physical presence of Jesus was a source of strength to his disciples, particularly to the chosen twelve. But his ascension into heaven after the resurrection ensured that the Holy Spirit could come and empower everyone to spread the gospel to all the world. “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father,” says Jesus. The apostles might not have understood this statement when the Lord uttered it, but they came to know of its meaning the moment the Holy Spirit came and gave them the gifts of understanding and wisdom.

Goodbyes need not always be a sad moment. The journey from birth to maturity involves saying goodbye to a lot of things. The toddler says goodbye to always being at home in order to enter school. The student says goodbye to school to enter the workforce. A person says goodbye to single life to marry. Parents say goodbye to their children as they embark on their personal journeys.

And in the end, we say goodbye to our earthly bodies to go to the afterlife. If we truly understand that death is the last process we need to experience before eternal happiness, perhaps we would not be as anxious or afraid of it.