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| Not the prison stay from today's first reading, but close enough. |
It's hard to imagine that it is better for us if Jesus returns to the Father. But he promises that it is.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
We need the Advocate. The world needs him. He is the one who reveals to us the truth about who Jesus is and the truth about who we are and how much we need him. Jesus's work is done, made present forever to the world through the Church. The Holy Spirit's ongoing work is to give testimony to Jesus, to convict us all of who he is and what he did, and ultimately to unite us all with him.
It is better that Jesus goes because, united to the Holy Spirit, we are not distant from him. This really helps when we face challenges. It is much better to have God living in us than simply to be near us when we undergo suffering.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
there was suddenly such a severe earthquake
that the foundations of the jail shook;
all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
The Spirit enables us to sing even behind the prison bars of the world. And more amazingly still he enables us to choose to endure for the sake of others. Rather than running from the prison immediately we wait on the guidance of the Spirit.
But Paul shouted out in a loud voice,
"Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."
He asked for a light and rushed in and,
trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
The jailer was about to kill himself. But because the Spirit lives in Paul and Silas they are able to remain in the cell even after the doors are blown open. Imagine that. It seems like a clear indication that it is time to make a run for it. After being stripped and beaten and chained in the inner cell they are probably ready to run on the human level. But the Spirit compels them to stay. And because the stay the jailer comes to faith in Jesus.
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;
then he and all his family were baptized at once.
He brought them up into his house and provided a meal
and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
Paul and Silas don't stay a second longer than they need to in that cell. God has a purpose for them there. But there is no sense in remaining in a cell if God has not asked it of them. No chains or bars can keep them in such a cell.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
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