7th week in Easter Time, Tuesday – 23rd May 2023 – Acts 20,17-27; Jn 17,1-11a
Farewell to Elders
Today’s first reading and the Gospel present the final words addressed to followers of a leader who will soon be leaving them. Throughout his ministry, Paul had established the importance of leadership of elders. He appointed elders in each Church right from his first missionary journey. He addressed them as episkopoi, literally means ‘overseers’ (Phil 1,1). An ‘overseer’ seems to have been a presbyter (elder) with some executive authority in the community. In the letters to Timothy and Titus are listed the qualifications to become a presbyter (1 Time 3; Tit 1). Here Paul called on the elders of the church in Ephesus to give them final instructions and say farewell to them. It is the last testament of a loving pastor with more touching words. Although Paul was a tough man in many respects, yet he was also very emotional. Having been guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul realizes that his ministry and mission to the people in Ephesus, and in the Roman province of Asia is over. He tells them that he will probably never again see them, at least on this side of death. He bids farewell to them, informing that he does not fear the imprisonment and persecution which probably await him when he returns to Jerusalem and beyond.
