Greetings in Christ!
As we joyfully celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we are reminded that Jesus did not leave us to abandon us, but rather to expand how He is present to us and to the world—He is no longer bound by time and space, but present in His body the church, present in our souls by grace, present especially in the poor, forgotten, and the suffering (Matthew 25:40-45), and present in a particular way in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
The Ascension is not a moment of sorrow, but a profound shift in mission. Just as the apostles were asked to look forward and act, we too are called to continue Jesus’ work to evangelize, bringing His light into a world that desperately needs hope and peace.
It is said that one of the saints of our time, St. Jose Maria Escriva who passed on to eternal glory in 1975, said the following, ”I can't rest as long as there are souls to be saved. But when the angel says; 'Time is no more!' then I will take my rest. I will be able to rejoice, because the number of the elect will be complete, and because all will have entered into joy and repose.”
The Ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven, placed a greater emphasis both on the work of the Holy Spirit, whose coming we will celebrate at Pentecost, and with that, a greater emphasis upon the Church, Christ’s body in the world. Like St. Jose Maria, it is not time for us to rest, but rather to seek to progress in holiness and to evangelize the world. There are several ways that we can live out our Lord’s Ascension and His call to the church.
The Ascension marks the moment when we the Church, are called to become Christ’s hands and feet on earth. Following Jesus means actively transforming ourselves, our families, circles of influence, church and broader community by being witnesses of His truth and charity. This invites us to be both proclaimers of hope in an often dark and despairing world. It also invites us to bring the joyful truth of the Gospel to our workplaces, families, and neighbors.
Two of the major goals that came out of our survey among our parishioners was the need to: 1. Grow spiritually and 2. Increase volunteer participation. I urge each one of you to make a personal commitment to each one of these goals. To that end, consider signing up for the small group study this weekend. In addition, pray about some ways that you can volunteer your time to bless and serve our parish community.
In Christ,
Fr. Carlson, Pastor
