WAITING IN PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Readings: Acts 1:12-14, 1 Peter 4:13-16, John 17:1-11a.

 

Last Thursday, we celebrated the feast of the Lord’s ascension into heaven. Before his ascension, Jesus gave his disciples some instructions. One of them is that they should wait in Jerusalem until they receive the promise of the Father (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4). The purpose of this instruction was for the disciples to await the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would empower and equip them for their mission of proclaiming the Gospel, which is the other instruction that Jesus gave them. Jesus wanted them to be prepared and filled with the Holy Spirit before embarking on their ministry. This waiting period occurred during the time leading up to the Day of Pentecost and is therefore the origin of Novena Prayer.

In the first reading, we find the disciples obeying this instruction of Jesus to wait in Jerusalem. St. Luke tells us that the disciples along with some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus all joined together constantly in prayer (Acts 1:14). They devoted themselves to communal prayer, seeking God’s guidance, and preparing their hearts for the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What this tells us is that prayer is a central activity during the time of waiting. We do not wait passively; we wait actively in prayer.

Like the disciples, we often find ourselves in different seasons and moments of waiting. It is either we are waiting for healing from sickness, promotion at work, life partner, fruit of the womb, admission into school, visa approval, job offers, or the arrival of a loved one. One common denominator about waiting in general is that it is often challenging and can be a test of patience and endurance. But then, waiting too can be rewarding if we remain faithful till the end. In the case of the disciples, their faithful waiting in Jerusalem was rewarded on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in a powerful and transformative way, launching the beginning of the early Christian Church and equipping the disciples to boldly proclaim the Gospel to the world (Acts 2:1-11).

The second reading calls us to embrace the challenges that may come while waiting in prayer. In today’s fast-paced world, we are accustomed to instant results and immediate gratification. Waiting goes against this cultural norm, and it can be challenging to wait for God’s timing instead of seeking quick fixes or taking matters into our own hands. When we are in a season of waiting, we often face uncertainty and doubt. We may question whether God has heard our prayers or if his plans align with our expectations. Peter reminds the early Christians in the second reading that waiting is not always easy, and we may face trials and opposition. However, through our endurance and steadfastness, we can be transformed and share in the glory of Christ.

Lastly, the Gospel reading presents a portion of Jesus’ high priestly prayer. Jesus prays for himself, his disciples, and all believers. Through his prayer, Jesus exemplifies the importance of surrendering to God’s timing and trusting in his plans. He emphasizes the eternal life that is found in knowing God and his Son. Like the disciples, let us also learn to wait on God for answers to our prayers, for doors to open, or for his guidance and direction. We wait because we recognize the importance of divine timing and trust in God’s plans. May God grant us the patience to wait, and to pray while waiting.