Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”. In today’s first reading the two men in white robes warned the apostles against idleness. For sure, it was nice to look at the ascending Lord and the heavens, but their responsibility was different. They received a mission, given them by the Lord, to go to the whole world and to make disciples of all the nations. The Lord did not want His disciples to contemplate his celestial glory and doing nothing else, but rather to draw strength from the contemplation, so that they could continue Jesus’ mission.

Today, when we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we need to hear that warning again. As Jesus’ disciples, we ought to recognize our mission in the world and a proper time both for the action that is required by the kingdom of heaven and the contemplation of the celestial glory, which sharers we are to come. Each real community of the faithful exists due to its members’ prayer life and activity. A true prayer urges one to work not only for their good but first of all for the good of their community. On the other hand, an effective action needs to be rooted in prayer; otherwise it is deprived of God’s blessing.

May the Lord, who ascended to heaven to prepare dwelling places for us, increase our faith, so that we may do the will of the Father and revive the hope for eternal life.

This week the Universal Church remains in the Novena to the Holy Spirit before Pentecost Sunday. We pray that the Paraclete may guide the faithful through the sea of earthly adversities into the celestial harbour of God’s kingdom.

The renovation of the men’s washroom continues this week. Last Wednesday we began the installation of the air conditioning system in our church. The project was submitted to the diocese last July and in May was approved. Hopefully, it will be ready to use before summer heat.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

God bless,

Fr. Peter