Ascension Sunday!

It might not have the same ring as "Ascension Thursday," but if you live in a province where this holy day was transferred from Thursday to Sunday, then it is what it is. This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. Jesus had been telling his disciples that he would go away and prepare a place for them and for us. That time has come with this great feast. However, it is not a time to mourn the departure of our Lord. He promised to be with us until the end of time. Instead, we have work to do. We have been entrusted with a great mission and we need to continue that as we await the full reality of God's kingdom. Like the angels told the disciples in the Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven." In other words, you have work to do. Jesus entrusted you with his work, to begin the early church, and you need to get back to it. Don't stand there looking up because Jesus is with you and will be with all of us until the end of time. He is giving us the grace and strength that we need to fulfill his mission. The Lord has ascended into heaven and he looks to us, his disciples, to spread the Good News. May this holy day renew us in our efforts to build up the Kingdom of God in our midst. Have a blessed weekend!!!