"What's Your Vision?": Reflection for May 16, 2010, the 7th Sunday of the Easter Season

Scripture for today, the 7th Sunday of the Easter Season: Acts of the Apostles 7: 55-60; Revelation 22: 12-20; John 17: 20-2 can be read at www.usccb.org/nab

What's Your Vision?

As personal experience, observing others, or continued learning may have taught, a vision or goal is very important. Having a vision or a goal can, consciously or unconsciously, affect our priorities, and, in turn, affect the ways we use our time, talent and treasure.

Although we may never be called upon to give our lives as a witness to Jesus as Stephen was called to do ( Acts of the Apostles), the way we envision and think about life touches ordinary, everyday choices as well as significant, life-changing ones.

As we may also know from experience, personal visions and goals call for periodic clarification and renewal. God’s Word today reminds us of the significance of one’s personal vision; this Word also challenges us to see how our visions and goals are touched by those of Jesus (John).

To think about: What influences my personal vision and goals?
What influences my family’s and my children’s visions and goals?
How do I define “success” and “achievement”?
Do I view people and circumstances in my life as Jesus views them?
How do I view people I consider my enemy?
Where do I need awareness of God’s presence to grow in my life?

To do: Take a few minutes each day (one or two minutes a few times a day can make a difference) to reflect on your blessings and gifts from God. Thank God for these blessings!
See the good that someone is doing and affirm those good words or actions.
Change your vision of consumerism by giving money to an organization that helps those in need instead of buying something you really don’t need. Let this be one way to show that your vision includes all people in the family of God.
Grow in living Stephen’s (Acts of the Apostles) and Jesus’ attitude of forgiveness: if there’s someone you’ve been unable to forgive, ask God to help you begin to want to forgive that person.
To pray: Picture Jesus blessing you as he says "May the love with which God has loved me be in you"(John) or “We are many parts, we are all one body” as a reminder of our connection to each other through God's Spirit.

Next week: Pentecost: God’s Spirit brings the church to life! Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11; 1Corinthians 12: 3-13; John 20; 19-23