Enlightened Hope

~~~Ascension of the Lord~~~
~~~ Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 47 ~~~ 

~~~Ephesians 1:17-23 ~~~ Mark 16:15-20 ~~~

...you will receive power 
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth.

You first received the power of the Holy Spirit
when the waters of Baptism were poured over your head.

The Lord claimed you for himself.
This included the pouring forth of the
Holy Spirit into your soul.
The apostles had to wait until Jesus returned to the Father.
His promise to them was the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit was sent down upon them giving them
 all that they would need to continue his mission.

Jesus was no longer going to be with them,
 but the power of his Spirit would sustain their faith.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call...

We have been called to go forth out
into the world to spread the good news.

Today I was thinking that I am more often
passionate about defending my favorite cruise line
 than defending my Catholic faith.

I can give you many reasons why you should take one
or the other cruise ship,
but when it comes to my faith
 I am often too quiet.
I find this curious about myself.
I really do not care which cruise line you choose.
I do care if you are bashing one cruise line
 when you have never even been on it.

Recently we were seated with some guests that had personal
issues with the Catholic church.

I found myself at a loss for defending
 the decisions of the church that basically pushed them away.

I could only tell them I understood why they were bitter and hurt.
I could only tell them that I was sorry.
I could only tell them that I personally
could never give up my sacraments.

I did not feel like there was anything
I could say that would make things better for them.

I felt bad for them that they had let one past incident
 in their life turn them completely away from the church.

I could tell them many reasons why they should try X cruise line.
But I felt somehow lacking as to why they
should return to their Catholic faith.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to the apostles,
which he did. They in turn received many gifts.
They were able to heal and speak in tongues.

The best I can do is to live my life
 from the core faith that I have.

The best I can do is to love you
 even when you bash the Catholic faith,
that I love.

I may not be able to convert you, but maybe
 I can give you a better vision...a more positive
experience with a practicing Catholic.

I pray that my evangelizing is more
 about my actions than my words.

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.

May the Blessings of the Lord
bring you hope.
He is with us until the end of time.
~~~Peace~~~

Blessing Them He Was Taken Up

The Ascension of Our Lord

~~Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11~~Psalm 47~~Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23~~Luke 24:46-53~~

 

Today we commemorate the Ascension of the Lord.

His return to the Father.

His homecoming day.

The day he leaves the Earth for eternity.

The day his public ministry comes to a close.

The day his ministry becomes private.

The day he can send the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

 

There will no longer be 'seeing and believing'.

There will no longer be visible healings through his touch and words.

 

Jesus has now gone private, as we heard in  the homily today

 while away from home.

 

'Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.'

 

Jesus kept all of his promises.

Why would we question his promises today?

 

Even until he was taken up into heaven he was leading his disciples.

Before leaving them he raised his hands up to the Father;

then he blessed them.

 

I have received special blessings from newly ordained priests

 and even special blessings for our marriage.

 

Imagine receiving the final blessing from Jesus himself.

 

 

Rather than leaving this place depressed and sad that Jesus had departed;

those who witnessed the Ascension were filled with great joy.

 

The Ascension was right up there with the day the Lord revealed his true glory

during the Transfiguration.

There had never before been anything like the Ascension,

nor has there been since.

 

He had prepared them for his departure.

In the same breath he had given them something

to hold on to and look forward to...

he would send the Holy Spirit.

 He promised to go before us and prepare a dwelling place for us...

today we celebrate that promise.

The Easter Blessing of the Ascension

 is believing that he goes before us to be reunited with the Father.

Together they prepare a dwelling place for us in heaven.

Today we also celebrate Mother's Day.

May all mother's receive the necessary grace to be the best mother.