ACTS 1:1-11
PSALM 46:2-3, 6-9
EPHESIANS 1:17-23
MATTHEW 28:16-20
The Ascension marks Jesus’ physical separation from the human story. But it is not a departure of Jesus from us. The Ascension celebrates Jesus’ unity with the Father.
It also celebrates the new relationship we are called to with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that he will be with us till the end of time. We know that the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. But how real is this in our lives? Or is this just something we just simply believe but do not give it much thought?
In John’s Gospel, in praying for us, Jesus asks the Father that we may be one in them as he and the Father are one. Jesus now goes to the Father that we may come to know God as he knew the Father. This is Jesus’ invitation given to us: that we may be one with God.
Jesus taught his disciples about God. Jesus revealed God to them through his teachings, his ministry, and his life. But we will never know the meaning of this unless we live it out ourselves.
There is a difference between reading about a country and living in that country. God is not in some far-away place. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has brought us to God.
Jesus has not gone to some far-away place. He said: “I will be with you always to the end of time.”
So where is God? God is there in every moment in our lives. It is whenever we see with the eyes of faith; hear with the ears of compassion; and touch with the hands of prayer that we will find God.
There was a religious Brother Lawrence who once lived in a monastic life. He worked in the kitchen in the monastery and was the happiest person in the monastery. When asked his reason, he replied because I meet God in everything that I do.
A lady once told me that she was always distracted by children when praying at Mass. I told her to embrace those children and love them and you will have a greater prayer in your heart than all the words you can find. Finding God begins with a desire for God’s love in our hearts.
The most difficult thing we do, can be turned into the happiest moment when we recognize God is there.
God is here: listen and see and touch and we will find God. Make everything we do a spiritual encounter with God and we will come to know his presence
and it will transform what we do
and it will transform who we are.
Merredin Catholic Parish 