May 13, 2010
Feast of the Ascension
I find myself saying with some regularity: "I am not sure if I am coming or going." Jesus' return to the Father is both a going to the Father and coming to us in the Holy Spirit. The account of the Ascension in the Gospel of Luke ends the physical presence and Easter appearances of Jesus. The account of the Ascension in Acts (by the same author) marks the beginning of Jesus' sacramental and spiritual presence in the Church. Mary of Nazareth was with the eleven and women of Galilee when Jesus ascended. She returned with them to the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Here they waited in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. She and the apostles were commissioned to give witness to Jesus Christ and to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Today the Holy Father is in Portugal for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. When Mary appeared to the three children, she asked them to bring a message of repentance, conversion and peace to the world -- the same message and mission entrusted to his disciples at the Ascension. It is our task as well.
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6th Sunday of Easter
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Pentecost
