Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:3

       Our Third Order secular religious group is highly communitarian in charism. We try to practice daily the communal lauds and vespers as much as possible.

       Our particular chapter is composed largely of senior citizens. Only a few are below 60 years old and the average age is somewhere between 65 to 75 years.

         With this age group — and strong personalities — our chapter at one point was a headache for the spiritual directors. Yet we have existed for more than 20 years because of God’s grace and because members continue to attend and pray together in spite of differences.

       What binds us together? Our father, St. Augustine, wrote, “The members of Christ are united among each other by the charity of unity, which at the same time unites them with their Head, who is Jesus Christ.” From our formation, we are taught that it is an act of love to keep our unity with each other. It is love that unites us. Unity, not uniformity, is the name of the game. Cristy Galang (cristy_cc@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Do you belong to a Christian community? How do you practice loving each other?

Lord Jesus, make us one as You and the Father are one. Only Your grace and Your Holy Spirit can do this in us, Lord, and we pray that You will be with us always. Amen.

St. Paschal Baylon, pray for us.

The Apostles experienced paralysis by fear of the unknown, of not having Jesus with them. But this all changed when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Today’s feast reminds us that Jesus’ physical presence was a gift for a particular moment in time. He remains with us through the Holy Spirit.

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. 2 [3] For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (R) 5 [6] God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. 6 [7] Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R) 7 [8] For the king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. 8 [9] God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. (R)

Christ has given each of us a gift. It is up to you to discover His gift to you. Knowing our gift is important. This tells us how God wants us to evangelize and build up His Kingdom. Let us continue to discover the fullness of grace that God offers to us.

1 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. 9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Jesus commissions His Apostles to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is not about whether or not we should share the Good News of salvation with others but how we are going to evangelize. The Gospel is for everybody and we must ensure that it reaches everyone. Let us do what we can to accomplish this most important task.

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

15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

think: Christ has given each of us a gift. It is up to you to discover His gift to you.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ruth 1-4

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This year’s liturgy (Year B) is taken from Mark’s Gospel. Mark writes his account of Jesus’ life very simply and without too much color. Often he writes very succinctly that in just a few lines you will get the message.

         Forty days ago, Jesus rose from the dead and began His mission of encountering His beloved friends. Some believed, some hesitated, and some walked away. But to those who would continue spreading the message of Jesus, He showed Himself to confirm that He was with them to the end of time. Mark writes about the “signs” associated with believers. These signs are the Acts of the Apostles, which Luke also writes in his accounts of the Early Church. The message is very simple: “Go!”

         To whom shall we go? Jesus commands His disciples to go out to the whole world, to let no corner be left untouched. Through the streets wide and narrow, in homes and in villages, in places of work and play, the disciples are to go far and wide spreading the message of Christ. Mark informs us what they did. The disciples went out and preached everywhere and the Lord was with them, working with them, and confirming their service. They were to continue the work of Jesus — preaching and teaching.

         We are disciples of Jesus. We are also called to go. We are to carry with us the joy of the Risen Christ, the love of His presence, and the hope of His salvation. Joy, love and hope are the fruits of life in the Risen Christ. The Lord will work in us and through us. Every nation, every land, every people will be touched by the powerful witness of the disciples of Jesus. We are not alone — He is with us, to the end of time. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION: Go out to the world and proclaim the Good News.

Jesus, I hear Your voice calling me to go out to the world. Work with me and through me. Amen.