First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel: Luke 24:36-53
That was a big crisis time alright. Crises are our bread and butter as a church. We had our beginning in the midst of a very big crisis. The Last Supper was a time of great anxiety. Jesus knew that one of his own very close associates was going to betray him. He was also very aware that the one whom he designated to be the leader would soon get so confused and disoriented that he would deny him three times. Jesus was also conscious that he was going to experience a terrible time at the hands of the Romans and that this would lead to a death that was reserved for criminals. Indeed it was a time of crisis. How did Jesus handle all of this?
As I read the account of the last supper I do not find Jesus getting into a huddle with the twelve trying to devise a point by point plan how they were going to face this situation. All he left them was his presence. “Do this in memory of me”. Remember what I did. Remember what I said. Meet together around the table of the Eucharist and meditate on my presence among you.
This is pretty similar to what the early Christian communities came up with as they faced terrible rejection and persecution. We are all aware of how much our early Christian brothers and sisters suffered at the hands of various people, most notably the Romans. We have often read about how many were martyred in the Colloseum, either crucified or eaten and mauled by wild beasts. They went through all of that because of the same belief that you and I have today. Yet at first they said, “well we can put up with this. Let us be patient and endure all of this. It will soon pass because Jesus is going to come back very soon and he will fix up everything.” But He did not. It was only because of this realisation that they started to write down their experiences of being with Jesus. This is how the New Testament came to be written. The New Testament is not merely a series of stories about Jesus, but recounts the very presence of Jesus as expressed by the early church and which to us is also an embodiment of Jesus Christ who is alive. No wonder that Vatican II taught us that in the scripture we have another very powerful presence of Jesus Christ. This is how the early church faced its own crises.
Now what about us today? How are we going to face our crises that from time to time test us because we are human beings. This is why today’s feast is so important, the Ascension of the Lord into heaven. What does this all mean? Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing now in heaven? I have often asked this question. Yes it is true he promised to be with us till the end of time. But in reality what does all of this mean? How is He being with us at this very precise moment so that He can be of help to us?
In the second reading of today which is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews the writer says this “It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modeled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf”. (Rom 9-24) Early on in the same letter we find these words “It follows then, that his (Jesus’s) power to save those who come to God through Him is absolute, since he lives forever to intercede for them” (Rom 7-25). So Jesus is acting on our behalf and interceding for us at this present moment. In plain English what Jesus is doing at the present time as a fruit of His Ascension is that he is praying for you and for me so that we can continue His mission and His work. How can we fail? We have been guaranteed the victory even though at times we become so discouraged and so despondent because of various reasons. We need to develop a victorious mentality which says that no matter what I need to face and own, I will not be crushed because Jesus Christ is alive in me and at this very moment He is praying for me. So I will persevere knowing that it is not I who is living at the moment, but that it is Jesus Christ living in me (Gal 2:20). This is what kept Paul going and this is how you and I continue to be enabled and empowered to continue to be faithful to our responsibilities.
We all have difficulties to face. We all, from time to time are immersed in situations that can be dilapidating and which suck out from us all our energy and leave us listless and dazed. As people who believe in Jesus Christ when we have our own crises, there are these things that we can do.
Number 1. Let us face situations squarely so that we can work towards the truth, for what is just and right , and for what needs to be righted. This is also the fruit of prayer. It is from taking time to reflect, meditate and be present with our God that our hearts can develop the right openness and attitudes to enable us to desire to make such a decision.
Number 2. We do the best that we can to look at the situation from different aspects and to try to grasp what is really taking place and what is at stake. So we need to seek advice, to talk to people who are mature and who have been through similar situations. We also need to seek professional help at times.
Number 3. Let us proceed with confidence to make the decisions which need to be made knowing full well that Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord is at this very moment praying for you and for me.
God bless
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel: Luke 24:36-53
That was a big crisis time alright. Crises are our bread and butter as a church. We had our beginning in the midst of a very big crisis. The Last Supper was a time of great anxiety. Jesus knew that one of his own very close associates was going to betray him. He was also very aware that the one whom he designated to be the leader would soon get so confused and disoriented that he would deny him three times. Jesus was also conscious that he was going to experience a terrible time at the hands of the Romans and that this would lead to a death that was reserved for criminals. Indeed it was a time of crisis. How did Jesus handle all of this?
As I read the account of the last supper I do not find Jesus getting into a huddle with the twelve trying to devise a point by point plan how they were going to face this situation. All he left them was his presence. “Do this in memory of me”. Remember what I did. Remember what I said. Meet together around the table of the Eucharist and meditate on my presence among you.
This is pretty similar to what the early Christian communities came up with as they faced terrible rejection and persecution. We are all aware of how much our early Christian brothers and sisters suffered at the hands of various people, most notably the Romans. We have often read about how many were martyred in the Colloseum, either crucified or eaten and mauled by wild beasts. They went through all of that because of the same belief that you and I have today. Yet at first they said, “well we can put up with this. Let us be patient and endure all of this. It will soon pass because Jesus is going to come back very soon and he will fix up everything.” But He did not. It was only because of this realisation that they started to write down their experiences of being with Jesus. This is how the New Testament came to be written. The New Testament is not merely a series of stories about Jesus, but recounts the very presence of Jesus as expressed by the early church and which to us is also an embodiment of Jesus Christ who is alive. No wonder that Vatican II taught us that in the scripture we have another very powerful presence of Jesus Christ. This is how the early church faced its own crises.
Now what about us today? How are we going to face our crises that from time to time test us because we are human beings. This is why today’s feast is so important, the Ascension of the Lord into heaven. What does this all mean? Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing now in heaven? I have often asked this question. Yes it is true he promised to be with us till the end of time. But in reality what does all of this mean? How is He being with us at this very precise moment so that He can be of help to us?
In the second reading of today which is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews the writer says this “It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modeled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf”. (Rom 9-24) Early on in the same letter we find these words “It follows then, that his (Jesus’s) power to save those who come to God through Him is absolute, since he lives forever to intercede for them” (Rom 7-25). So Jesus is acting on our behalf and interceding for us at this present moment. In plain English what Jesus is doing at the present time as a fruit of His Ascension is that he is praying for you and for me so that we can continue His mission and His work. How can we fail? We have been guaranteed the victory even though at times we become so discouraged and so despondent because of various reasons. We need to develop a victorious mentality which says that no matter what I need to face and own, I will not be crushed because Jesus Christ is alive in me and at this very moment He is praying for me. So I will persevere knowing that it is not I who is living at the moment, but that it is Jesus Christ living in me (Gal 2:20). This is what kept Paul going and this is how you and I continue to be enabled and empowered to continue to be faithful to our responsibilities.
We all have difficulties to face. We all, from time to time are immersed in situations that can be dilapidating and which suck out from us all our energy and leave us listless and dazed. As people who believe in Jesus Christ when we have our own crises, there are these things that we can do.
Number 1. Let us face situations squarely so that we can work towards the truth, for what is just and right , and for what needs to be righted. This is also the fruit of prayer. It is from taking time to reflect, meditate and be present with our God that our hearts can develop the right openness and attitudes to enable us to desire to make such a decision.
Number 2. We do the best that we can to look at the situation from different aspects and to try to grasp what is really taking place and what is at stake. So we need to seek advice, to talk to people who are mature and who have been through similar situations. We also need to seek professional help at times.
Number 3. Let us proceed with confidence to make the decisions which need to be made knowing full well that Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord is at this very moment praying for you and for me.
God bless
