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The Solemnity of the
Ascension is all about evangelization, that word we are hearing so often
these days. It simply means the preaching of the gospel. According to
Matthew before Jesus returned to his Father in glory, he sent the
disciples on ahead to Galilee. There he appeared to them and
commissioned them to “go... and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing... and teaching them... He promised “I am with you always,
until the end of the age.”
Matthew could not have been any more clear about Jesus instructions. The
gospel was meant for all to hear. Race, ethnicity, culture, social
status, or gender may have no bearing on preaching the gospel. It is for
all men and women. It was not easy for the infant church to grow beyond
its Jewish heritage in order to become a truly catholic church. It is
still a task for us to embrace the diversity of others around us. It is
the Spirit which drives the Church outward from “Jerusalem throughout
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Should it surprise us that in our own day the church finds many of her
vocations coming from India, Asia, and Africa? Perhaps one day these new
vocations from the third world will lead a revival of the Catholic faith
in old Europe and maybe even right here in North America. The Church is
authentic only when true to her evangelizing mission. Have we become too
comfortable with the gospel? Perhaps it is no longer good news but only
old news for us. Our standard of living is so wonderful, are we willing
to take up our cross each day and follow Jesus?
In Europe the great churches are considered national treasures. They are
beautifully preserved and maintained by the governments. Students of art
and architecture from all over the world visit them regularly. But few
people worship in them. They are but a memory of days gone by. Our faith
can become like that; a trinket we treasure because it is old and
beautiful and belonged to someone we loved.
Faith was never meant to be preserved in some safe and secret place in
our hearts to be brought forth only on appropriate occasions. Faith is a
relationship. It is being in love with the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit!
On this Mothers’ Day recall that first experiences with love usually
comes from our mothers. From that relationship we develop our
sense of trust and well being in the world. As we get older we may
become jealous of siblings who appear to be competing for the precious
attention and affection of our mothers. Sometimes children do not
understand that there is enough love for everyone. Sometimes adults do
not understand either.
Love takes a lot out of a person, at least we think so. That may be why
we love so few people. To love someone means to become involved in
their well being, to worry about them, to make sacrifices for them. Are
we afraid of loving people? Is that perhaps why we have only 1.8
children per family in our nation? Have we confused giving things with
self-giving? Why are we amazed at the birth rate in poorer nations? Is
it because we have come to value our standard of living more than life
itself?
Jesus taught us that God’s love is without limits. And our love should
be the same. How much did Jesus love? He loved enough to lay down his
life out of love for the Father and for us. Even death could not
overcome his divine love as the Resurrection testifies.
At the Ascension Jesus took his place at the right hand of the Father.
Though his risen body returned to heaven, Christ left behind a new kind
of body, a community of believers. Through apostles and evangelists he
continues to teach, through prophets and pastors he continues to
minister, throughout his Church Jesus continues his mission to be
“God-with-us” until the end of time. This is the good news that he asks
us to bring to the ends of the earth.
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