Torch Lit by the Risen Lord

 In Pastor's Notes-Fr. Ritche

It’s been over 40 days since we celebrated the Solemnity of Easter.  Now we are almost at the end of this great feast.  This weekend we remember and celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. As we read the events of Jesus’ return to the Father, something interesting happened.  The Book of Acts says: “While they (the disciples) were looking intently at the sky as he (Jesus) was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking at the sky?’” I take that to mean that the messengers were leading the disciples to begin a new chapter in their lives – to move on to the mission that has been given them.

The feast of the Ascension is more than just an inspiring scene at the end of a very good movie.  Rather, it is a multidimensional event. Ascension is both a gift and a task. A gift because we have Jesus reuniting us back to the Father as He sits on His right hand, a task because we are being asked to be responsible followers making present the Risen Lord in the here and now.   In the Gospel of Matthew, before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave the disciples a commandment to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and to teach all that Jesus taught them.

As commemorate this wonderful event in our Christian faith, we too are reminded of the task that we have been given and that is to take the opportunity to continue the works of Jesus.  We are to be the hands, the feet, the eyes, and the heart of Jesus.

This weekend, 70 of our youth are about to embark on taking on that opportunity by being confirmed into our community of faith.  Let us welcome them with open arms and joyful hearts as we commit ourselves in setting good examples of what trued discipleship is all about through our words and our deeds. To these youth, congratulations, too, as you are now to become a torch of love, service, healing and reconciliation lit by the Risen Lord!

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