Dear People of God,
May the Risen Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 16th May 2021. We celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
We reflect from Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 4:1-13; and the Gospel Mark 16:15-20
We read from Acts 1:1-11; the second reading is Ephesians 1:17-23; and the Gospel from Mark 16:15-20
the Solemnity of the Ascension is not to commemorate a departure but the celebration of the living and lasting presence of Jesus in the church through us and in the life-giving Sacraments. We are entrusted with a mission, a mandate and new makeover on this solemnity of the Lord. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” (Jn.14:2,3).
Jesus returns to the Father after 40 days of being with his disciples after the Resurrection.
The first reading tells us: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts. 1:11). There is no need to look up always but to look around, near to one another so that we can pass on the love of the Risen Lord through our behaviour, attitudes, and relationships. “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Col.3:1).
The mantle of evangelisation has fallen upon us all. It is our turn to continue where the Lord left.
The story of Giocomo Puccini, a great composer. He had started a big project of creating a new symphony. During that period, he developed cancer. But he encouraged his students to continue where he left. The students played the music of the master in the orchestra. One of the students came in front and told the audience gather: “This far is our master’s creation. Here continues the student’s concerto.”
“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col.3:4).
There is no need to do a research on the mystery of ascension of the Lord rather to practice the message of the feast in our lives. As Jesus is exalted, so we need to transcend to perceive and do things that reminds the world of being the witnesses to Jesus.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts.1:8).
Jesus entrusts us all with a mission, a mandate and a new make-over. The mandate to reach out to all people is the message we all need to carry through today.
“He who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).
The mission of the Church is this: We are all called to be the missionaries of love, hope, and healing. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Mt. 25:35)
Difference between heaven and hell is little. In Heaven people feel contended and happy by making others happy and contended but in Hell people are frustrated, stress and astonished figuring out to be happy for themselves.
We have been touched by the Risen Lord; it is our turn to touch the lives of the other. Before, going to heaven Christ has entrusted to the Church the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel to all creation. “Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25). The work of wholistic healing the humanity is entrusted to the Church. Disciples of Christ can cast out demons; Can cure diseases; Fearlessly hold the snake by the hand; You can also drink deadly poison, that is, there are no obstacles or evil spirits in this world that cannot be carried out by the disciples. The Church does not operate alone in its redemptive work, but Christ Himself acts immediately in the Church. “And the Lord acted with them, confirming their word with signs and wonders” (Mark 16:20).
The mandate to reach out not to preach and teach but to heal and give hope. Let us continue where He left. We are not going to do it alone but with the assurance from Jesus: I am with you till the end of the world.
His holiness Pope Francis teaches us: “God’s love calls us to move beyond fear. We ask God for the courage to put on faith, hope and love as we go out into the world and become the word in body as well as spirit.”
The new makeover is the power of the Holy Spirit and the promise of the presence of Jesus in all we need. And therefore, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.” May the ascended Lord be with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Have a lovely day. God bless you.