Paul says goodbye to the community of Ephesus in our first reading today; he spent approximately 2 to 3 years preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that community. Paul at first encountered great enthusiasm from the Jews there as he preached to them in their synagogue, but later, when opposition arose, he moved to the public hall where his message was heard by many. As he gets ready for his departure, Paul makes preparations to go to Jerusalem, even though he knows that he may face violence or arrest upon his arrival there.
It is difficult saying goodbye sometimes, isn’t it? We who are involved in ministry do not know when we are going to be called to a different place or a different type of ministry altogether. Already, as a priest with 11 years of experiences, I have had four different assignments in parishes and 2 different assignments in the chancery office. Ministry can be like that - saying hello and saying goodbye is something we do often. We give thanks for Paul and those first Fathers and Mothers of the Early Church who were pioneers in preaching Good News of Jesus Christ and for all the priests and lay ministers who have served here in our Diocese. The Lord is with us in our of our experiences - in our joys and our accomplishments, in our sufferings and our challenges, in our arrivals and in our goodbyes.
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