This week...
Today is Ascension Thursday! Fr. JT’s homily for the Holy Day is below. Also, we have created a Memorial Day meditation for you to honor those who have died in the service of our country. Please continue to send us your pictures of how you celebrate Holy Mary. Next week’s meditation will feature your pics among others, as we close out the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
Fr. JT’s ASCENSION THURSDAY HOMILY
“Why are you standing here looking up at the sky? He’s gone! Get down to Mission”. This is the message of the Angels in the gospel of today.
The first reading and the gospel from the same author (Luke) marks the end of a phase in the history of salvation and the beginning of another: the Ascension of the Lord brings to an end the “in persona” earthly ministry of Jesus, and marks the beginning of another long phase of Mission which the Holy Spirit will champion, a phase which will only end with the parousia (second coming of Jesus) - “This Jesus will return in the same way as you see him go.”
Thus, we hear Jesus inaugurating this new and long phase with a mandate (to evangelize the whole world) and a promise (to send the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit).
So, Ascension Thursday is actually the celebration of both Ascension and Mission.
As christians (followers of Christ), today we carry the banner of this mandate and the seal of this promise for our world - we are on mission with the Holy Spirit, or better put, the Holy Spirit is on mission with us, while Jesus intercedes for us before the Father.
As we now go the direction of Pentecost (with the novena to the Holy Spirit which begins tomorrow, Friday), may we always have the joy to know and understand in our hearts and manifest in our lives that:
- Christ’s incarnation is our rebirth
- His ministry is our mission
- His death is our immortality
- His resurrection will be our resurrection
- His ascension will be our ascension
- His coming in glory will be our glorification
Then, God will be all-in-all (1Corinthians 15:28)
Until then, when he returns in glory, let us continue to cherish, on mission and in our hearts, his abiding presence among us and in his church as he promised. Amen!
With the entire Church in waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, consider for your novena this powerful traditional prayer to the Holy Spirit. As you pray it, open your heart to God who pours the Holy Spirit into the hearts of all who love God and believe his word:
*Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful;
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created;
And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful;
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise; And ever enjoy His consolations.
Through Christ Our Lord, Amen*
Bles-sings!
Fr. JT
Administrator