Ascension Thursday

Tomorrow is Ascension Sunday. We celebrate with great solemnity the Lord Jesus' ascension into heaven. After several weeks of reflecting and praying over the Lord's 'ministry of consolation' to His disciples who were grieved by His death, we remember Jesus ascent into glory.

Perhaps it is helpful if we look at this Solemnity in the light of hope. Jesus ascended into heaven not so much to leave us but to empower us. Remember His words that when the time comes for him to go, "the Paraclete will come to us to help us," and that "He will always be with us until the end of time." Ascension I think is a milestone for all of us as Christians. It is Jesus' constant and living invitation for us to continue His mission: Jesus is no longer here physically to heal, console, forgive, and love... ergo, as friends and followers of Jesus, the Solemnity of the Ascension is the reminder for us to "heal, console, forgive, and love" all men and women in the name of Jesus.

Let us pray then that we become faithful to this mission entrusted to us and that by doing our "mission," we make Jesus Christ more present and alive in our midst. Amen.