Meditations on
Mercy – The Ascension of the Lord
The readings for
the Ascension seem so hopeful to us, because we know what’s coming next: the
power from on high, the tongues of fire, the Good News preached to all nations, and the birth of the Church. But,
knowing none of this, the Apostles must have felt abandoned and alone as they
stared up at the sky. Jesus, who had promised to remain with them always, was
gone.
But Jesus
truly has remained with us always, in the Church and the precious gifts that flow
from her: the Eucharist, the Sacraments, the Mass, and the Gospel. The Church is
entrusted with the mission of bringing God’s message of mercy to the whole
world, a seemingly impossible task that can only be accomplished with the assistance
of the Holy Spirit. Yet Jesus allows the Apostles to wait nine long days before
conferring the gift of the Holy Spirit. This time of prayer strengthens and prepares
them to carry out God’s plans.
Now, during
the nine days leading to Pentecost, we must pray as the Apostles did, for the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on the Church, because many have still not heard God’s message of mercy.
The time is short; pray always!
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