The Ascension of the Lord
June 2, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Acts 1:1-11 / Ps 47 / Eph 1:17-23 / Lk 24:46-53
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Each of us gathered here in front of God’s altar, who is old enough to have responsibilities at home or at work, must be carrying a cross on his or her shoulder, which means each of us has a problem or two. Welcome to the human family. As long as we are still breathing, we will have trials and difficulties. We all have a share of life’s ups and downs, but as God’s children we always move on and continue our faith journey.

Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, which is the sign of our hope, we should be reminded of the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, when he wrote these words: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what is the hope that belongs to His call.”

Every morning when we wake up, we have a choice to look up with hope or look down on the upcoming anxieties of the day; to count our blessings or our troubles; to walk with faith or to walk with fear. Faith is the best antidote for fear. Our faith in the Lord will drive out all fear.

I have been giving the Last Rites to many people lately, and I am usually asked if those people who are near death are afraid. I reply that of course they are – with few exceptions. What lessens the fear of death is their hope and faith in the Lord’s promise of eternal life.

At the opening prayer of this Mass of the Ascension we prayed: “Gladden us with holy joys, Almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ, Your Son, is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.”