Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven. Many years ago In most places, including ours, this celebration had been transferred from the traditional Thursday. The thought was that the Ascension is such an important part of the Easter event that it could be missed even by devout Catholics who would not be able to get to celebrate it during the week. So, we celebrate today on Sunday.
It seems like a farewell, an end. Jesus in his physical bodily presence is returning to the Father. Graduation is seen as something of an end, yet we also call it a commencement…a beginning. He sends his disciples to go out and proclaim the Good News. That is why Jesus founded a Church. He didn’t found a Church, and then decide what. He founded it for this mission: to the proclaim the Good News of the Reign of God and of our salvation. As we say on the feast of Christ the King: a kingdom of truth, life, holiness, justice, love and peace. This is the way of salvation, the way to the eternal kingdom in heaven.
That becomes the mission of us all because of our Baptism and Confirmation. You remember that we were anointed into Jesus’ mission as, priest, prophet and king. We are not simply spectators or recipients; we are called to be active agents of this mission. Like the disciples: “filled with all humility and gentleness, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit.” (Ephesians 4:2-5)
At Mass we take Jesus’ body and blood into our body and blood. The Spirit helps us accept his whole life, death, and resurrection as these settle into us and into others around us. This real presence now abides forever in our midst, urging us, gently nudging us to say yes to His plan, to our mission to our salvation.
Happy Mother’s Day! Fr. Schuessler
Saint James Catholic Church 