THE EXPERIENCE OF THE UPPER ROOM
(Acts 1: 12-14,Ps 27, 1Pet. 4:13-16, Jn 17:1-11)
A week today we shall celebrate Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. My dear friends I would like to reflect with you on the theme “The Experience of the Upper Room”. The reception of the Holy Spirit was preceded by intense preparations by the apostles and the other disciples including Mother Mary as indicated in the first reading of today.
When we have an event to celebrate, we all do prepare very well in order to have a successful programme. Failure to prepare well leads to unsuccessful programs which most times can be very frustrating. In the case of the apostles and the disciples, they resorted to intense prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The upper room experience was one of constant touch with the Lord as they ‘wait on the Lord’. It was one of constant preparations which was devotion to prayer as the scriptures indicate. The Lord Jesus himself ordered them to wait in Jerusalem till they receive the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4). The apostles and the other disciples did not interpret this “waiting” to be one of just eating and drinking.
The Christian concept of waiting is one of constant prayers, fasting and meditation on the word of God. My dear friends, with matters of God there is the need for serious spiritual preparations. The success of everything in connection to God needs devoted prayer as the apostles did. As the physical preparations are concerned, the spiritual side must not be neglected because the physical preparations alone will not bring success and vice- versa. Sometimes we have relied so much on the physical preparations that is why we are not seeing any result. Some of us sometimes forget that success comes from God and rely so much on our own efforts. When we fail then we now turn to God. The God-factor is very important in every activity that we carry out.
Jesus our model leads us in this upper room experience. Before his public ministry, he fasted and prayed for forty days and night in which context he was tempted by the devil (Matt 4: 1-11). Before he chose his twelve apostles, the evangelist Luke indicates that he went to the mountain to pray (Luke 6:12-16). Even though he was God, we cannot take away the effects of his preparations on his ministry and major events in his life. He who was God even prepared himself for every major activity in his life.
The early Christians were very much in tuned with spiritual preparations towards any major activity they carried out just like their master. Typical is the chosen of Matthias to replace Judas which was in accordance to the scriptures (Acts 1: 12-26). They knew what it takes to have an experience of the upper room. The evidence is clear in the work they did after the descend of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit really empowered them to continue the mission of Christ because they were ready and prepared.
Some of us have become so activity – prone without any serious prayer life. People see us so busy in the church, but we are only empty vessels because there is no strength in us as instruments of God. Our source of strength for our Christian journey is consistent prayer life. We always need a refill as we continue to carry out our mission on this earth. This comes through prayer in the Lord. If you want God to use you then you have to be in constant touch with him. The Holy Spirit wants to use you to promote the kingdom of God, hence be in daily touch with Jesus in prayer.
As part of the preparations for Pentecost, the church has prepared the nine days Novena for us to have the upper room experience. If our experience of the upper room for the commemoration of Pentecost has not been a good one over the years then this year there must be a change. Let this year’s Pentecost experience be a difference. But all depends on how prepared we are to have this experience.
As we continue to prepare for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I want you to dedicate this week to intensive prayer life with fasting as well. And as a church and a family, we must also be united in prayer as we wait for his empowerment. Are you ready for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit? How is your experience of the upper room? Let us get ready for him. May the Holy Spirit help us to prepare adequately for his empowerment. AMEN
HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY AND A FAVOURED WEEK AHEAD.
REV. FR. MATTHEW AKAKPO
