Acts 1:1-11; Ps 46(47); Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53
The Choice is Yours
Dear friends, today is the feast of the Ascension of the risen Lord. It is forty days since the resurrection. In some places, this feast was celebrated last Thursday, the proper feast day. However, for pastoral reasons, especially in many places where the faithful cannot attend Mass on Thursday, this feast is celebrated on the following Sunday. In today’s readings, Jesus bids farewell to his disciples, but only temporarily, because he promised to come back. As he left them, Jesus gave his disciples the mission to witness the good news of the resurrection to all humanity. For them to accomplish this mission, he promised to send them the Holy Spirit.
Just like many of us, the disciples were anxious to know whether this was the time when the kingdom of Israel would be restored. The disciples had not yet understood the real meaning of the “kingdom of God”. They were still stuck to the concept of a political messiah. Jesus knew that after they had received the Holy Spirit, everything would be clear to them. The Holy Spirit in us makes us understand the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit given to the Apostles and through them to the Church, continues the work of redemption in the world. All the baptized people become the temples of the Holy Spirit, who work in them for their own salvation and that of the world around them. Unfortunately, many Christians have been misled to believe that the Holy Spirit is a tool that they can use for their own benefit. You hear preachers commanding the Holy Spirit to do this or that. All the baptized in general and the religious leaders in particular are supposed to be the instruments of the Holy Spirit and not His commanders.
The Holy Spirit is always at work, not for us but in and through us. Unfortunately, many people have been misled to think that if they believe, the Holy Spirit will do all the work for them. All they need to do is worship from Monday to Sunday. On the contrary, whatever it is that you want God to do for you, you must work alongside His Spirit. For the poor who want to be rich, you must wake up early in the morning and prepare yourself for the day’s work. The Holy Spirit will open job opportunities for you to make it financially. For the rich who want to protect their wealth, remember to honour your responsibilities before God and neighbour with integrity. The Holy Spirit will give you peace and protection. If you do not do that, you will fall prey to religious entrepreneurs. If you are poor, they will come to you with quick financial breakthrough miracles and swindle even the little you have. If you are rich, they will promise you false protection from imaginary witches at a very high fee. The choice is yours.
In the Gospel reading today, Jesus sends his disciples to go and preach repentance and forgiveness in his name. Today, many people are living in captivity and slavery of falsehood, delusion, violence, injustice, inequality, irresponsibility, selfishness, greed, politics of hatred, and their kin. Repentance and true change of heart are needed to reconcile humanity with nature and the divine. The tragedy I come across so often is that people who abandon their faith regard themselves as free. I know that everyone has their own reasons, but the question I ask is, are they talking about being free from God or from their religious institutions and leaders? When one frees himself or herself from God and his kingdom, he or she becomes a slave to the world and its rulers. The outcome is self-explanatory. The choice is yours.
Finally, we have read that after Jesus had been taken from them, the disciples returned to Jerusalem full of Joy. This is different from the day when Jesus was crucified. It was a good end with a promise. Now Jesus will no longer be present to them physically but rather in Spirit. Jesus is present to us through the Sacraments, which are the visible signs of the invisible grace, only visible through our faith. The grace of God is always available for those who seek it with a sincere heart. The only price you must pay is your adherence to the tenets of faith, patience, and collaboration with the Holy Spirit within you. If you want quick fixes to the problems you have accumulated for years, then you will be a customer of false prophets or religious entrepreneurs. Even a wound does not heal in one day. Again, the choice is yours.
Dear friends, our mind sees the physical world through our eyes and the spiritual world through our faith. Do not confuse this. Anyone who is trying to make you see the spiritual world physically is a con, run!
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD.
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 