Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of the Lord is, at first glance, a puzzling mystery. St Luke, in his gospel, has Jesus carried up into heaven at the end of the Resurrection day, while in his second book, The Acts of the Apostles, acknowledged in its opening line as being a sequel to the gospel (Acts 1: 1), Jesus ascends after forty days of appearances and teaching (Acts 1: 3). The account in St Mark's gospel (Mk 16: 19) and the Great Commission of St Matthew (Mtt 28: 16-20) are different again while St John has no Ascension account at all. Nevertheless, in the liturgical calendar, we celebrate the latter Lukan version as we prepare for the great feast of Pentecost on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. The Bishops' Conference feel the feast is so important that the observance of the feast has been moved from the Thursday, which would be the literal fortieth day after Easter Sunday, to a Sunday. In this way more of the faithful are able to reflect on the significance of what is described in Eucharistic Prayer III as "his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven." Without explaining all the reasons for the differences in the Scriptural accounts, it is clear that the Ascension is important to our spiritual reality. The prefaces for the Solemnity help us to understand why: "... he ascended, not to distance himself from our lowly state but that we, his members, might be confident of following where he, our Head and Founder, has gone before" (Preface I of the Ascension), and, "(he) was taken up to heaven in their sight, that he might make us sharers in his divinity." (Preface II of the Ascension). In addition, Eucharistic Prayer I states further: "Celebrating the most sacred day on which your Only Begotten Son, our Lord, placed at the right hand of of your glory our weak human nature, which he had united to himself...".  We can see from all of this that the Ascension plays an integral part in our understanding of the implications of the Incarnation which means the divinization of the human race through Christ Jesus. Let us pray that our minds be opened to the greatness of this mystery so that our hearts will be filled with longing to join with the Lord in his glory even as we struggle with our own difficulties of our earthly existence. 

6th Sunday of Easter

In the Gospel this week we are pointed by the Lord to the impending sending of the Spirit: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you," (Jn 14: 26) The mystery of Christ is that his incarnation, unlike the lives or ordinary people, does not fade away along with the photographs, videos and Facebook pages. Rather, through the working of Holy Spirit the resurrection amplifies and universalizes the presence of the once lowly carpenter of Nazareth. " 'The first man , Adam, became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." (Rom 15: 45) The Church, with her sacraments, is a prolongation of the Lord's ministry. In Easter tide 2019 we must all have a thirst for the Holy Spirit so that our personal and collective efforts to transform our own lives and to bring others to know Christ bear fruit. As we lead up to the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost let us pray fervently for the Holy Spirit to teach us what Christ taught and remind us what he said. After all we have the promise  that the Holy Spirit it available for those who request him: "If you then,who are evil, know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk 11: 11)

5th Sunday of Easter

Jesus says: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another." (Jn 13: 34) What is this love? St Paul teaches: "But God proves his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us." (Rm 5: 8) This teaches us that the authenticity of Christian love is proved by the way in which we love others when they are either our enemies or have sinned. Such love does not require apologies or restitution. In the final analysis it is the way of the Cross. Jesus from the cross prayed: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Lk 23: 34) It is the love and forgiveness that we have known in Christ Jesus that gives us the ability to love those who do not love us. We can see around the world the endurance of Christians who are being persecuted for the faith. Let us be in solidarity with them as well as praying for those who, for whatever reason, hate us. Then we will be imitating our Lord and inherit the blessings he has promised: "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Lk 6: 35-36)

4th Sunday of Easter

Today is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is an opportunity for the faithful to remember the importance not only of Christ the "Good Shepherd" but also those whom he calls to act as shepherds of the flock which is his Church. We are also asked to financially support our seminarians in their studies With the turmoil and scandals of the present time many voice are raised to challenge both the need for and nature of ordained ministry. To this end it is necessary to reiterate some of the non-negotiable aspects of the ordained:

 - "The reservation of the priesthood to males, as a sign of Christ the Spouse who gives himself in the Eucharist, is not a question open to discussion..." (Evangelium gaudium, 104)

 - The common priesthood of the baptized and the ordained priesthood: "differ from one another in essence and not only degree..." (Lumen gentium, 10) Therefore, the distinction re non-ordained and ordained is not made on the basis of function but on how each vocation is for others.

 - This diversity in the priesthood is not found in Christ but in the mode of participation in his priesthood (Ecclesiae de mysterio, 1).

 - "The ministerial priesthood is necessary for a community to exist as 'Church.' " (Ecclesiae de mysterio, 3)

 - Extraordinary ministers within the liturgy by definition exist outside of the hierarchical ministry with which they are called to cooperate: "Temporary deputation for liturgical purposes... does not confer any special or permanent title on the non-ordained faithul." (Ecclesiae de mysterio, Article 1)

 - "... priests as co-workers with their bishops, have as their primary duty (Latin: primum officium) the proclamation of the Gospel of God to all." (Presbyterorum ordinis, 4) Thus, the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily are as much a part of the duties of the priest as the praying of the Eucharistic Prayer.

Hopefully, these doctrinal pointers help us to understand why the ordained ministry is not a dispensable or man-made aspect of the life of the Church but is integral and essential to her being. This, furthermore, should encourage is to promote and pray for vocations to the priesthood.