Wait Here
Today is the feast day of Luke the Evangelist.
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. This, he said, is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1;1-8
Right at the beginning of the story of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke sets the stage for what is to come. Wait here, Jesus tells them. Do not leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit descends upon you.
In the Gospel of John, we hear that one didn’t listen. Thomas wasn’t with them when Jesus appeared in the locked room. But they must have called him back, because he was there later.
We can always change our minds, so long as there is time. We don’t know how much time we have, so why think we have all the time in the world?
Jesus told them to wait until they were oven guidance by the Spirit. That is something we should do as well, but once the Spirit comes, it is time to go.
As Christians, we believe the Spirit comes upon us at Baptism, and we confirm that gift of the Spirit later but then we are free to go into the world and spread the Gospel.
So, I guess Luke is reminding us today that we are done waiting. It is time to act.
Like him, we should be out there, telling the story and changing lives for the better.
More to come...