Rest Your Head on Jesus at Mass!
Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM
R est Your Head on Jesus at Mass!
The Reading and the Gospel for today’s Mass, the day before Pentecost Sunday, are the conclusion of the Acts of the Apostles and Gospel of St. John. In the Gospel, there is the final dialogue between Jesus and St. Peter. In the reading there is Paul who has been preaching, and now spends the last two years of his life in Rome.
The Message Left by St. Paul
Both of these readings have an important message for us on what lies ahead. Starting with St. Paul, he is guarded and wearing chains. He is imprisoned, but the Gospel is not. Paul is chained, but the Gospel is not. The Apostles’ mission is to go out into the world and preach, and live the Gospel. Paul preached the Gospel, before he arrived in Rome to be imprisoned. He is physically chained in Rome. He physically can not move the way he used to in his younger days. But from Paul, the Word of God moves freely. The Word moves broadly, as he continues to preach and to teach.
The Beloved Disciple Rests His Head on Jesus
The Last Supper: Italian Painter: Domenico Ghirlandaio: 1480
What a remarkable image and message this is for us today! During these days, clouded by the pandemic, we are isolated. We are slowly moving to open the Churches. But these times are also marked with what we can not do. We are isolated from our “normal” world. We are imprisoned, in a sense. Like St. Paul, under a certain house limit or house lock down. It is easy to think the Word and works of God are impeded.
Paul never stops spreading the Gospel. He surrenders himself, willingly, to God. Within the limits of his circumstances, he places at the service of the Lord the spreading of the Gospel. This is the lesson for us. We may be limited, but the Gospel knows no such limitations. Behold the power of the life that surrenders to the Lord! Listen to the first half of the homily and the lessons left by St. Paul.
Our Work is Given to Us by The Lord
The Homily turns to the Gospel, as we first hear the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Jesus says, be concerned about the quality of your own vocation. Jesus gave Peter his mission. The Lord gives each of us our own mission as well. Concern yourselves with the mission Jesus gives you. Put your spiritual house in order. Attend to the mission He gives to you.
We are one Body and one Church. We are to harmoniously work together. But the work itself is distinct and unique for each one of us. We are all sent into the world to proclaim and live the Gospel. However, each of us has different work given to us by the Lord. This work compliments the other members of the Body, but the work is not done in the same way for each member.
Peter becomes the first Pope. John physically has the longest presence on this earth. Longer than any of the other Apostles. John pens the great fourth Gospel. John is found at the foot of The Cross with Mary.
St. John’s Gospel, which has such great detail of the Life of Jesus, concludes in an unique way. While much was written in the Gospel, much more was not written. It concludes that Jesus did more than what was written. There is always more to Jesus Christ, to His person and to His Goodness than what we can appreciate right now. Hear more about the conclusion of John’s Gospel and what it means for us!
Lessons for All of Us
We need to understand that there is more to Jesus than what is written in the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will come and teach us more about Jesus. It is the Spirit filled proclamation of the Gospel that is not limited by any earthly chain. It is the Spirit filled prayer and meditation that allows us to enter into a greater fullness of the Gospel; that allows us to go beyond the written words of the Gospel.
St. John, The One That Rested His Head on Jesus at Mass
Meditate on the image of the Beloved Disciple resting his Head on Jesus’ heart at the Last Supper. What better image is there for us? What better image can there be for us to participate well and attentively in the Mass? Be like the disciple at the Last Supper. Rest your head on the heart of Jesus. Hear the beating of His heart. Feel the beating of His heart. Feel His heart’s movement.
As you make your act of Spiritual Communion today, or in the days to come, before you celebrate Holy Communion during the Mass, follow the example of the Beloved Disciple. Rest your head against the beating heart of Jesus. Do not worry about what you say. In fact, do not immediately say anything. Feel the movement of His heart and His mercy. Let the Spirit teach you, what words can not proclaim. Rest Your Head on Jesus at Mass!
Rest Your Head on Jesus at Mass!
