The Ascension of the Lord - It's not over yet!

 

"I am with you always until the end of the age"

Matthew 28: 16-20

The Word:https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051726-Ascension

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Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, 

and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,

for the Ascension of Christ your Son

is our exaltation,

and where the Head has gone before in glory,

the Body is called to follow in hope.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

(Collect of Feast)

It isn’t often that we imagine Jesus issuing commands to his disciples.  Usually, we see him offering forgiveness, mercy, love, compassion to everyone who comes to him in any need.  Yet, we know that he took a different direction when confronted by the religious leaders of his time; the infamous Pharisees who would try and catch him in some violation of the Mosaic Law or some infringement of their religious rituals and traditions.

From the Gospel of Matthew on this Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Jesus issues a command to his inner circle of disciples. It’s not a forceful or threatening “command” but rather an expressed desire as Jesus says to them: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father . . . “While I imagine he issued this command in a firm but supportive way, it seems to me there’s no gray area when you simply “Go” and carry on the mission Jesus has begun. It is both exciting and cautious at the same time. 

The Apostles are called to preach as Jesus’ preached, to heal as Jesus healed, to meet opposition with non-violence and courage as Jesus did, and to remain steadfast in the core message of the good news of Jesus death and resurrection, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you . . . “

So, we might imagine the Apostles as courageous, stalwart individuals who got their act together and set out for all corners of the ancient world spread far and wide with the message of the Gospel.  Yet even they knew that when we join forces together as the People of God, we can, united in love, bring about a transformative experience that will move the direction of the world away from hatred and violence to unity and peace. It is Christ who works in his Church through the commitment of many. The following story may illustrate this point beautifully.

A teacher named Mark was in his second year of teaching, in the middle of the term, when the principal brought a new boy to the 4th grade classroom.  His name was Thomas, and Thomas had Turrets syndrome.  Now for those of you who are not familiar with Turrets should know that those who have this syndrome are intelligent people, but they are not able to control their bodies because of involuntary jerks and sudden movements that affect their movement and frequently their speech.

Thomas adjusted rather well to the 4th grade class, but his biggest challenge was reading.  In reading class each of the students took turns reading a paragraph out loud.  This was something that Thomas was embarrassed to do.  He understood the paragraph, but he knew that in reading it aloud there would be many false starts and stutters.  It was something that he was afraid to attempt.

So when Mark would ask, “Thomas, are you willing to read to the class today?”  Thomas would beg, “Please Mr. Harris.  Don’t make me read before the class!”  Mark never forced him to read.  But, he thought that it was important to keep asking.  This went on for months, until one day, Mark said, “Thomas, are you willing to read to the class today?”  “I can’t.” said Thomas.  But a girl in the next row said, “Yes you can, Thomas.  Give it a try.  If you get stuck, I’ll help you.”  And from across the classroom, another boy cried out, “Go for it Thomas.  Give it a shot.  If you get stuck, I’ll call out the word and all you’ll need to do is repeat it.”

So, Thomas very tentatively stood up at his desk and opened his book.  He began to read the paragraph.  Almost at every syllable – Thomas froze.  But then, someone would call out the word or the syllable and he would repeat it.  Thus, word by word, syllable by syllable, Thomas made his way through the paragraph.  By the time that he came to the end, almost everyone in the class had called out a word or had done something to help.  When he finally finished the last word, he closed his book and looked up.  The entire class burst into applause.  Then, Mark said that he saw something he had never seen before since Thomas entered the class.  He saw Thomas smile.  And, with a sweep of accomplishment, he took a triple bow.

The opposition the Apostles encountered on their missionary journeys as Jesus sent them out with the phrase: “Go, therefore . . . “was real and life threatening in many cases. But despite that, like the children who stood with Thomas in the classroom, so Jesus stands by his disciples in the power of his Spirit not only then but especially now

Jesus promised the Apostles that though he will not be physically present to them any longer, he will still be present in his Spirit in the Church, though his teaching and their faithfulness: “And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age . . . “

The Ascension of the Lord is not the end of a life lived on earth but rather a moment in the journey to eternity where God has taken humanity to heaven with Jesus and a reminder that it’s not complete until Christ comes again.  As St. Paul reminds us today to carry on what he began until he returns.  We don’t look up for Christ, we look forward and around us where he makes himself present in others, in the sacraments, in the works of mercy and love, in the body of the Church and every member of the body.

Let’s call out the words we need to hear; words of support, of acceptance, of forgiveness, of love and understanding.  

 

6th Sunday of Easter - Can I hear the Spirit?

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you"

John 14: 15-21

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051026.cfm

Grant, almighty God, 

that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy,

which we hope in honor of the risen Lord,

and that what we relive in remembrance

we may always hold to in what we do.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, 

who lives nd reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

(from Collect)

At the beginning of the last century, one of the most desirable and attractive technical jobs was to serve as a radio operator on one of the luxury ships that regularly crossed the Atlantic Ocean.  To hold this job you had to understand the operation of the primitive radios that were available at that time. But you also had to master Morse code, which was a technical language of longer and shorter beeps that could be sent over the radio by which the ships could communicate with one another. 

On one occasion, one of the most successful cruise lines advertised a position for a radio operator.  The waiting room for the line’s office where the interviews were taking place was filled to capacity.  Over 50 people were waiting to interview for the job.  They were talking to one another in voices loud enough to make themselves heard over the public address system which every so often would announce that the interviews would soon begin.  In the midst of this activity, a young man entered the room and filled out an application for the job.  He then sat down by himself for a few moments.  Suddenly he stood up and went through a door marked “private.”  A few minutes later he returned with a big smile on his face and announced that he had been hired for the job.  This caused one of the applicants to protest.  “Look,” he said, “we were here hours before you arrived.  Why was it that you went in for your interview before us?”  The young man replied, “Any one of you here could have landed this job, but you weren’t listening.  Over the PA system there was a constant message being sent in Morse code.  The message was this, “We desire to hire a person who is always alert.  So if you hear this message, come immediately into the private office.” This story is a good image of our relationship to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is always with us, and yet we must listen to appreciate that presence. 

Same is true with our spiritual life.  While we have no control over what God will do, if we will or desire holiness the way is to take the Lord seriously, participate in a sacramental life, allow him to be the center of our lives, and be open to the Spirit’s grace.  Our way is one of humility, prayer, and selfless service to those in need. Everything else is grace by God’s will.

The Gospel scene today is a kind of farewell, a last testimony to the Apostles before Jesus returns to his Father.  They know he has given them much to ponder and to understand. Here he reassures them that if they truly remain in his love, they will be able to understand more fully and deeply all that he has given them. If they listen for his voice, they will understand the message.

We must believe in our hearts and lives that God always wills our good.  In fact, God is incapable of doing evil, though at times we may wonder why he allows so much of it but always wills us good.  In fact, the definition of love by St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that love is “to will the good of another.” Jesus promises his Apostles that though he may be leaving their physical sight, he will send another “advocate” to stand by their side.  And by that Spirit, though invisible, we become a constant presence of himself and guide them along the way of truth, beauty and goodness. In essence, it is the way we too must live our life in the Spirit now through our love for Christ and one another and our participation in the sacraments, especially the holy Eucharist.  This is what Jesus desires for those who profess faith in him and how we can encounter the risen Lord.

The Spirit will come to them and abide with them as the Spirit will gradually unfold for them the fullness of who Jesus is and what their mission will demand. That is divine reassurance that though he leaves, he remains with them in the Holy Spirit. This will bring about what every Christian should desire and hope for: that deeper experience of the love of God. But his presence may work silently, gradually, gently like the morse code beneath the PA message in our earlier story.

In speaking of love, Jesus is not referring to affection, emotion, or warm feelings, the usual indicator of love for another.  What he is requesting of his Apostles is their loyalty.  We can rephrase: “If you are loyal to me (love me), you will keep my commandments.”

We might use the example of a married couple who show their deepest love for the other by their loyalty: for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death. I will remain faithful or loyal to you throughout our marriage and in that way I indicate my true love for you. It is beyond feelings and sharing good times. If a husband stands in defence of his wife or a wife in defence of her husband, that certainly indicates a level of love that is lived out in loyalty. If he or she stands by the bedside of a seriously ill or mentally deficient spouse, such loyalty reveals their true love lived out in deeds of faithfulness.  Same, in the case of disciples of the Lord with far greater results.

Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles is a wonderful example of this.  The pressure was on for the early Christian communities in Jerusalem and that area since they were increasingly becoming viewed as a threat to Judaism and the Jewish way of life with its multiple legal requirements.

There the Spirit begins to work as the crowds all listened attentively to the message of Philip, as they witnessed exorcisms and healings being worked. As he baptized these new converts, both Peter and John, came to join him as they imposed hands and prayed for the coming of the Spirit upon the new Christians.  In the case, we hear what may sound to us of the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation. These primary Apostles, the first Bishops of the Church and leaders among the believers, like our own Bishop today, are called to lay hands and pray over those to receive the Spirit.

As the early Apostles and the early Christians found themselves with a new direction and a new social order of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and service, they came to understand more deeply the meaning of Jesus’ mission and that of their own in the world.  In the end, this made them unique among the culture around them.  Yet, they remained loyal to the end and countless thousands even went to martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel.

Where there is a will there is a way.  The will to love and be loyal to the way of Christ, will lead us on the path to eternity. The Gospel is timeless and the Spirit is constantly present guiding us to understand that “deposit of faith” as we call it but pay attention to what God is doing in your life. Pay attention to hear the “morse code” which calls us to holiness.

 

5th Sunday of Easter: The way to the Father's house

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled"

John 14: 1-12

The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050326.cfm

Almighty ever-living God,

constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, 

that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism

may, under your protective care, bear much fruit

and come to the joys of life eternal.

(from Collect of Mass)

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Our Gospel this Sunday begins with the words that we heard spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Mary or by a parent to their frightened child: “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” – Be not afraid.

The scene is at the Last Supper as Jesus encourages his disciples that although they will see what might appear to be the end of their Jesus plan, it is not the end but only the beginning of a greater plan by God.  Though the brutal suffering and crucifixion are on the horizon, after the resurrection, they will not be abandoned. So he assures them: Do not let your hearts be troubled.

But this is far more than the loss of a dear friend.  It is more than just a temporary absence or a vacation in which they will be reunited again.  Jesus reassures his disciples they will have a place in his Father’s house (heaven) and so too will we.  For now, they must carry on the mission of Christ entrusted to them and build up the Church he has established.  In that way, they begin to form the Father’s house in the community of the Church which is fulfilled in eternal life. So, it is a now and yet to come assurance that in a sense, the best is yet to come despite what may appear as failure through the cross.

The question of Thomas, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” strikes me as reasonable as these disciples have not yet experienced the resurrection. They are thinking in earthly, logical terms.  Jesus, in John’s Gospel, speaks in spiritual terms so it is another example of their gradual understanding of who Jesus is and the purpose of his mission to humanity, which is God’s itself.  Thomas does not need a road map or a GPS to show him the way.  He needs a Person who is the way itself. 

Jesus states you see me, you see the Father – this is what God is like, Jesus tells and shows us. When Jesus speaks, God speaks. Although this intimate group had seen and heard much up to this point the fullness of understanding is still hidden from them. Our Lord himself is the way to eternity. 

It may also be the question of our day.  Think for a moment.  What did these Apostles have to go on - The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and Jesus himself.  How learned were they in the fine points of the sacred scriptures: the Torah, the Law and the Prophets?  Likely not to the point they were able to connect the dots very easily, yet so much was part of their cultural experience and they came to know inherently as a Jewish people.

So, they had the person of Jesus himself.  They heard his teaching and they witnessed strange and miraculous events. We see in the first reading from Acts how the Church, in the face of growth, responded creatively as the Holy Spirit led them to see a great need for equality and fairness among the Greek and Aramaic speaking Christians. Yet, they still didn’t have much more than the testimony of the Apostles to go on and their direct experience of the Spirit among them. Eventually through the Apostles and St. Paul, the link between Old and New Testaments is uncovered and found to be fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

By comparison, what do we have?  Thousands of years of Christian history: Theologians, Doctors of the Church, Saints, Tradition, the New Testament Scriptures, not to mention overwhelming technological and scientific knowledge. It is far more than was available in the historical universe of ancient times.

Yet, we still ask the same question in this age of many distractions and miraculous medical science.  “You still do not know me?” Jesus addresses us. Every generation needs to hear the good news again and again.  The wealth of historical and spiritual treasure we have at our fingertips literally through the internet for example leaves us no excuse to remain unaware of the power of our Christian faith.

I think the focus of the Gospel and for our Christian lives is to once again hear the words of Jesus, which are astounding:  “I am the way and the truth and the life”  By this claim, he leaves for us no other choice and basically no option or door number two to walk through.  Jesus claims that he is THE way to the Father – to God; Jesus is the fullness of THE truth, and he brings us the promise and hope in THE life eternal.  If we find him, we need not search anywhere else and nothing else will fulfill or satisfy equally. And our faith life in the house of the Church is where we must remain to encounter the living Christ in sacraments, in word, in worship and in selfless works of charity.  In this way, our journey will take us to the true house of the Father in heaven where there are many dwelling places.

 Our second reading from Peter reminds us that the baptized are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own” called to greatness in the spiritual sense. So, maybe if we recognized our privilege not to be “holier than thou” but the privilege we hold in Christ to carry on his mission of self-less service, mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation, his good news in the world, we would not be so troubled by the world in which we live. To invite others to come to know the Lord Jesus in the ways we do it is more inspiring than simply words. We say what our Lord said to his first disciples: “Come and see.”

He is the way to the Father, the answer to our doubt, and the fullness of life that brings peace and harmony.  And as we gather in the Eucharist, in the presence of Christ risen and alive as our food and way, let us celebrate this gift of life and faith. 

4th Sunday of Easter - The Noble Shepherd

Whoever enters though me will be saved

 John 10: 1-10

The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042626.cfm

Our readings this Sunday of Easter are often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. They give us the assurance of faith that no matter how confused life may seem at times, we have One in which to ultimately trust that his intent is always for our good. We hear his voice, we recognize his supreme authority, and we follow his voice. Jesus our Shepherd cares for his flock and if we follow his voice we will never go astray. If the definition of love is to will the good of another, then this shepherd and his will towards us is one of pure love which takes away all fear.

I don't think there is any image more ancient and beloved throughout the Christian world than that of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It was favored during the early Christian era, as depicted on the walls of catacombs outside Rome and is certainly one of my favorites as well.  There is nothing fierce, disturbing, threatening or judgmental about this image. This is a shepherd whose word alone bears authority not spoken with threat but spoken with love. However, Jesus' image of shepherds is more than just a sentimental comfort.  We need to understand this on a broad scale.

Those who were “shepherds,” of Israel as religious leaders and Kings were painfully weak and compromising.  Their leadership was at times scandalous for they did not lead the people according to God’s Law. Originally, God gave in to the persuasion of Samuel that he allow Israel to have an earthly ruler, a King, but with a significant warning about their inherent weakness in leading the people and staying faithful to the original Covenant established with God and Moses.

King Zedekiah, the last King of Israel, was forced into position as a series of previous King’s had made bad decisions both spiritually and politically. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Babylonian’s during his reign.

The Kings of Israel were referred to as shepherds and everyone knew that was an image of leadership.  Their experience of earthly Kings, with the exception of King David who was himself flawed as we all are, was one of very poor leadership.

David's son Saul began with the best of intentions after the example of his own father yet eventually things went sour. Good leadership demanded these kings lead by good example themselves, holding to the truth, not compromising the law of God given to them, resisting a mix with other false gods, and truly caring for the people acknowledging God as the one true King of Israel. They did not lead the people to remain faithful to the Covenant given through Moses but rather led them astray by mixing with surrounding pagan cultures and seeking wealth and power over service. Overall, they were not good but rather failed and bad shepherds.

Comparing himself to these shepherds of earlier Jewish experience, Jesus contrasts himself in the Gospel with these bad shepherds: “All who came before me are thieves and robbers . . . “ Our Lord is a shepherd who cares not about financial profit or worldly power and fame but about the lives of every single sheep in the flock - he cares about you, and he cares about me.  He will sacrifice his own life, and has done so on the cross, for our sake and he will even care for others:  "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold "(Gentiles). These also I must lead . . ."

As Peter in our first readings from Acts proclaims to the crowds who eagerly desired to be baptized and forgiven of sin: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins . . .” The result was phenomenal as three thousand were baptized that day through the power of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s persuasiveness.

Even more, Jesus implies that he is the "noble" shepherd.  He lays down his life for the sheep in the face of fierce danger (the wolf comes).  Jesus has resisted the temptation to compromise and for our sake, in a noble and courageous way, followed his Father's will to the end.  Even the cross, despite its horror, became a noble throne for the King Shepherd.  He is far more than good - He is noble: honorable, self-sacrificing, moral, decent, kind. As the “gate” of the sheepfold, we enter and leave through Christ alone for he wills our good out of love and sacrifice. This is a living God who has come to make himself approachable; a God who takes away fear and replaces it with love - a love beyond our expectation or certainly beyond what we deserve or are worthy of.

Most importantly, is isn’t just faith in Jesus that we need as if all was possible through our own power.  The point is that little is possible compared to what Christ brings us in the Church.  The sheep are us in the community of the Church where Christ leads us and is present to us in our sacramental life, the power of his Word, the leaders of the Church (granted some have not been the best examples) but many have been indeed.  It is only in the Body of Christ that we come to know the Lord Jesus and experience the support of his grace.

The Eucharist in particular, when we gather as the flock, is that moment when the shepherd becomes present to speak to us and to feed us, with himself.  Here we find safety and the deposit of truth lest we go astray as wandering sheep. Our life in Christ that we share as his beloved sons and daughters supports us and directs in the way God has shown.  Do we hear his voice in the Church or have we deafened ourselves through sin or self-centered choices.

So, this Sunday we take hope in this beautiful image of Jesus our Good Shepherd.  We pray this weekend for leaders of our faith and in particular that more young men and women will hear the call to service in the Church – to ordained ministry and to consecrated life as women religious. That married couples will recognize their vocation to holiness and generously share that in their family. He is the risen Christ, the way, truth and life, the living bread, the Word of God among us, and the noble shepherd.

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Almighty ever-living God,

lead us to a share in the joys of heaven,

so that the humble flock may reach

where the brave Shepherd has gone before.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

(Opening Prayer of Mass)