SATURDAY 13 APRIL
40 DAYS EASTER TO ASCENSION
ACTS 1 verse 4: “While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father* about which you have heard me speak”.
The 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus were a period of intense expectation but also of uncertainty for the disciples. They did not know how long they had to wait in Jerusalem, and the days passed slowly. For us, in our modern world where time is precious and waiting is often seen as a waste, the idea of waiting forty days for something unknown can be difficult to understand. But it is precisely in this waiting period, during which they faithfully obeyed Jesus’ command to stay in Jerusalem, that they were prepared for a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
It is a lesson for all of us that waiting is sometimes necessary, even if we do not know how long it will take or what the outcome will be. In this time of waiting, we can grow in our faith, deepen our dependence on God, and prepare for what lies ahead. Let us, like the disciples, patiently and confidently wait for the promises of God, knowing that He is faithful and that He will never leave us. May this time of waiting open our hearts and minds to the movements of the Holy Spirit, so that we are ready to receive and fulfill His will when the time comes.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, in times of waiting, teach us to be patient and to trust in You. Give us the strength to remain steadfast, even when the days seem long and the outcome uncertain. Open our hearts and minds to the movements of Your Holy Spirit, so that we are ready to receive and fulfill Your will when the time comes. AMEN