In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, Jesus tells the Apostles and us “You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you . . . .” [Luke 24: 46-53]
The work of witnessing is hard, and it lasts for our entire life here on earth. One way your parents witness to Jesus[to the Faith] is by sacrificing to send you for your Catholic education here at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This morning we gather at Mass to celebrate the Lord’s Ascension into Heaven, His return to the Father. And that return enables the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to come upon whole the Church, including us to guide us.
The Ascension completes the Easter mysteries of Jesus’ life & is the final preparation for Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus fully human reminds us of His divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven. [Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 659]. Yet perhaps you think and feel somewhat like the Apostles who we just heard were standing there, looking up, wondering what just happened.
Why did Jesus go? Where did he go?
The angels say to them: “… why are you standing there looking at the sky?
…Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” [Acts 1:11]. If you plan a trip the most important part of your planning to is decide where you are going.
In life where are you going?
I suggest the most important goal, for you and for me, is Heaven, that is where we should plan to go and then focus all we do on realizing that plan. The Ascension is a reminder of our commitment to witness the Gospel; our pledge to live the Gospel, to “Live Jesus” here on earth.
The Apostles began to do what the Lord Jesus asked them to do: bear witness and make disciples. That task is … ours, as well. [Adopted from Sister Anna Marie McGuan, R.S.M., is Director of Christian Formation in the Diocese of Knoxville]
On the Mount of the Ascension, Jesus gives His Gospel of healing, compassion, reconciliation and hope, His Life’s work of revealing the love of God for all of us, to the Apostles to you and to me. He commissioned them and us to be His witnesses to the Gospel despite all our doubts, despite the hardships and the burdens that will come our way.
Jesus nourishes us with His Sacraments, but especially with the Eucharist, His body and blood.
In his Gospel St. Luke brings us Jesus as Teacher and Gift-Giver; in the Acts of the Apostles St. Luke presents the life of the early Church after the Ascension.
Jesus’ Incarnation reintroduces heaven to earth, His Resurrection manifests a new reality, His Ascension opens earth to heaven, and His Second Coming will usher in the fullness of God’s reign.
Sometime today look up on the internet Danny Hahlbohm’s painting of the Ascension
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-ascension-danny-hahlbohm.html and ponder Jesus ascending to heaven, realizing that He ascends into heaven to answer your prayers.
May God Be Praised!
No comments:
Post a Comment