Waiting for the Promised Gift

The Nightly Vigils (Luke 24:52-53, Acts 1:12-26)
The day's work is over. The disciples of Jesus mingle with all the other townspeople during the day and at first sight no one would notice any difference between them, but one with a keen eye would soon note it. Their is a contentment in their facial expressions, an energy in their labors, and an eagerness in their step as they close up shop at day's end. If further observations were made, one might see that these friends of Jesus are not returning to their own homes in the evening.

One by one, two by two, the visitors arrive at the home of Joseph (of Arimathea), the house of the famous Upper Room of the Last Supper. At the door to greet them is our Blessed Mother. "Come in, come... up the stairs, now. Oh, you have brought the children! Good! Hello....hello....Oh, thank you, Jeremiah!" She is greeting all of us so kindly. People come with flasks of wine or loaves of bread. Mary receives these and hands them on to the Apostles, who bring them upstairs.

All are very excited and affectionately they greet one another, as they talk quietly, continually peering around as if making sure to keep their activities secret. The Apostles have set up a table at one end, spreading a linen cloth over it and placing the loaves and flasks of wine upon it. Joseph is slowly making his way up the stairs with the precious Chalice, wrapped in silk brocaded cloth, in his hands. He presents this to Peter, whose eyes fill with tears as he receives it. Peter takes a moment to pause and reflect upon this Chalice and the great meaning it represents to him and then carefully places it in the center of the table in front of him.

The crowd has increased in size and there now is standing room only, though everyone continues to be orderly and quiet. "My dear brethren," Peter addresses them, "let us begin with the sign of our faith. Jesus made use of the cross to save us from condemnation. Let us always use this sign as a symbol of our salvation and a friendship with Him and one another." He gestures the sign of the cross over the large crowd, turn here and there and repeating it. He then prays a prayer of absolution to which they answer in unison their 'amen.'

Peter presents the two disciples, Joseph Barsabbas Justus and Matthias before the crowd and explains that Judas' office must be filled. Before the eyes of the entire congregation the lots are cast and it falls to Matthias. "Brother Matthias, would you please read from the scroll Isaiah's prophecy? Matthias feels honored to do so and as he reads, the words fall upon their hearts like seed upon good soil. Matthias finishes and soon a melodious chant rises from the crowd and the words of Psalm 68 are sounding through the room. "Sing to the Lord, O kingdoms of the earth! God arises; His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee before Him...."

The chant ends and it is Peter who breaks the silence: "Please, my dear ones, please sit if you can. I wish to relay to you the events that have occurred and what wonders the Lord has wrought that you may be informed. Dearest Brother John, would you kindly tell us again of the things Jesus spoke to us on the night of that Last Supper with Him?"

My sweet father in faith, John speaks up in his calm but passionate voice. He relates the events as he saw them. I see such humility in him as he speaks, as I see in each of the other Apostles, who continue standing but off to the side with arms folded and knowing smiles glistening on their tear-stained faces.

When John's account is finished, Peter motions for all to rise as He indicates that now he should like to recall the Sacred Words Jesus spoke on that blessed night. Each of the Apostles takes his place behind the altar on either side of Peter and picks up a loaf of bread as Peter speaks clearly and slowly the words of consecration. All of the loaves are elevated and quiet gasps ripple throughout the room. All are in awe.

More prayers of thanksgiving are spoken and Peter lifts up the beautiful Chalice, now full of the Blood of the Lamb. There is not a dry eye in the room as the Cup is lifted up for all to worship. The Twelve now stand bowing in humble adoration before they again pick up the loaves and begin breaking them and distributing them among the people. As each believer receives the morsel, he/she drops down to kneel in ecstasy. When all are on their knees, Peter begins to share the Cup until all are nourished.
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And so progress the days of waiting behind locked doors as the believers meet secretly each evening; praying, listening to the Apostles words, and breaking the Sacred Bread together, until the promised Holy Spirit should come to them. Each one is rapt in wonder and amazement and oh! how they hug and cry and laugh and greet one another with their holy kisses! Such pure, holy, beautiful affection!