Seventh Sunday in Easter

The Ascension of the Lord

May 20, 2012

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17-23; (or Ephesians 4:1-13); Mark 16:15-20

                Mark's Gospel concludes with the proclamation to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." (Most scripture scholars see this as a later addition to text to bring it to a positive conclusion. It has often been a source of conflict with evangelicals who believe in a literal textual explanation.) It points out that Jesus is validated as Lord of heaven and earth and is seated at the right hand of God. It emphasizes that the risen Lord confirmed the disciples as they healed and preached the kingdom in his name.

          Luke takes a polished approach to his account of the Ascension. He writes the Acts of the Apostles as an historical book with an emphasis on teaching new Gentile converts about the factual and mysterious accounts of the life of Jesus and the early church. He addresses it to Theophilus, an unnamed lover (filial) of God (Theos), to explain the significance of the divine actions. In the passage we read today, Luke describes Pentecost as the apt conclusion of God's saving work. He illustrates the forty-day period of appearances before Jesus is taken up to heaven where his spirit is sent forth from God to console and strengthen the disciples. The energizing Spirit baptizes believers and guards them in all their ways. The work of Jesus is to continue on this earth as he is still present to his faithful ones.

          As his baptized, we are called to extraordinary care for our fellow believers. Our work is not easy to do. Ephesians 4 outlines the work of the Spirit in a believer who is open to continued growth and discipleship. Whether at an institutional level or the most personal, we have great amounts of work to do to let the Spirit speak. Paul, in Ephesians, says we are to live in a manner worthy of the call we have received. Too often, our insecurities and our propensity to compare prohibits our capacity to be free enough to honor our call.

          Sometimes it seems that the humility and gentleness Paul writes about is largely withheld. It has little room in public discourse and in a competitive workplace environment, we tend not to build up one another and yet when we do, it transforms our culture. Many broken lives can be healed by these thoughtful gestures.

          Many confuse enabling actions with being patient and bearing with one another in love. Being patient means that we forgive tumbles and stumbles and we help the other person stand tall and see new ways of achieving his or her goal. I think many recognize the world is rife with overwhelming suffering. Bearing with another means that we simply show up for the one who feels beaten down at the moment.

         

          Paul also writes about "preserving the unity of spirit through the bond of peace." Our language mirrors that of the larger society. We learn to critically examine and analyze various situations and we offer suggestions to solve problems through our own individual ways. Rather, we have to learn to build up and assemble rather than to criticize and deconstruct. The Spirit works when we see ourselves as a contributor to the solution. We decide to construct a world where unity and virtues can be more easily grasped. Paul reminds us that the Spirit uses our unique gifts to testify to the good work of God that passes through our hands. Our attitude is important.

          We need to act out of our trust in the Spirit rather than from our insecurities and jealousies. When we believe the success of an endeavor depends upon how well we do things, we have sorely missed the point. Our gratitude goes to the Spirit who opens up the possibilities for us and we celebrate the small contributions we make. We make things far too difficult for ourselves. Suffering is far too omnipresent for our sensibilities. We do not need to pile up more hardships upon ourselves. When we give up control and see where it rightly belongs, we act out of grace that makes life a whole lot more pleasant. In these next days, let's pray fervently that we receive Christ's Spirit anew as we await Pentecost. If we let it, this Spirit can certainly renew our world and bring us greater joy.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: Paul goes to Ephesus to introduce believers to the Holy Spirit. Paul recounts the ways he served the Lord with humility, tears and trials, but he returns to an uncertain fate in Jerusalem. As Paul says goodbye, he urges them to keep watch over each other and to be vigilant about those who pervert the truth of the Gospel. Paul is brought to trial. The Pharisees and Sadducees are sharply divided; armed forces are sent to rescue Paul from their midst. The Lord tells Paul he must go to Rome and be faithful there just as he was faithful in Jerusalem. King Agrippa hears Paul's case and determines Paul is to be tried in Jerusalem, but Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals for the Emperor's decision.

Gospel: The disciples realize Jesus is returning to the Father and that he is strengthening them for the time he is away. Jesus prays for the safety of those given to him by God. He wants them to be safe as they testify to God's steadfastness in a harsh world. He prays for unity, "so that they may be one just as we are one." He consecrates them to the truth and wards off the Evil One. He also prays for those given to him through the testimony of others. The love Jesus and the Father share is available to future disciples. ~ After the Farewell Discourse ends, Jesus appears at the seashore with Simon Peter who professes his three-fold love of Jesus. Jesus forgives him and asks him to take care of his people even though the authorities of this world will eventually have their day with him.

Saints of the Week

May 20: Bernardine of Siena, priest, (1380-1444) was from a family of nobles who cared for the sick during plagues. He entered the Franciscans and preached across northern and central Italy with homilies that understood the needs of the laity. He became vicar general and instituted reforms.

May 21: Christopher Magallanes, priest and companions, martyrs (1869-1927) was a Mexican priest who served the indigenous people by forming agrarian communities. He opened seminaries when the ant-Catholic government kept shutting them down. He was arrested and executed with 21 priests and 3 laymen.

May 22: Rita of Cascia, religious (1381-1457), always wanted to become a nun but her family married her off to an abusive man. He was murdered 18 years later. Rita urged forgiveness when her two sons wanted to avenge their father's murder. They soon died too. Rita wanted to enter a convent, but he marital status kept her out. Eventually, the Augustinians in Cascia admitted her. She became a mystic and counselor to lay visitors.

May 24: Our Lady of the Way or in Italian, Madonna della Strada, is a painting enshrined at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus. The Madonna Della Strada is the patroness of the Society of Jesus. In 1568, Cardinal Farnese erected the Gesu in place of the former church of Santa Maria della Strada. 

May 25: Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor, (673-735), is the only English doctor of the church. As a child, he was sent to a Benedictine monastery where he studied theology and was ordained. He wrote thorough commentaries on scripture and history as well as poetry and biographies. His famous work is the "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," the source for much of Anglo-Saxon history.

May 25: Gregory VII, pope (1020-1085), was a Tuscan who was sent to a monastery to study under John Gratian, who became Gregory VI. He served the next few popes as chaplain, treasurer, chancellor and counselor before he became Gregory VII. He introduced strong reforms over civil authorities that caused much consternation. Eventually, the Romans turned against him when the Normans sacked Rome.

May 25: Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi (1566-1607), a Florentine, chose to become a Carmelite nun instead of getting married. Her biography, written by her confessor, gives accounts of intense bouts of desolation and joy. She is reputed to have gifts of prophecy and healing.

May 26: Philip Neri, priest (1515-1595), is known as the "Apostle of Rome." A Florentine who was educated by the Dominicans, he re-evangelized Roe by establishing confraternities of laymen to minister to pilgrims and the sick in hospitals. He founded the Oratorians when he gathered a sufficient following because of his spiritual wisdom.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         May 20, 1521. Ignatius was seriously wounded at Pamplona, Spain, while defending its fortress against the French.

·         May 21, 1925. Pius XI canonizes Peter Canisius, with Teresa of the Child Jesus, Mary Madeleine Postal, Madeleine Sophie Barat, John Vianney, and John Eudes. Canisius is declared a Doctor of the Church.

·         May 22, 1965. Pedro Arrupe was elected the 28th general of the Society of Jesus.

·         May 23, 1873. The death of Peter de Smet, a famous missionary among Native Americans of the great plains and mountains of the United States. He served as a mediator and negotiator of several treaties.

·         May 24, 1834. Don Pedro IV expelled the Society from Brazil.

·         May 25, 1569. At Rome the Society was installed by Pope St Pius V in the College of Penitentiaries. Priests of various nationalities who were resident there were required to act as confessors in St Peter's.

·         May 26, 1673. Ching Wei‑San (Emmanuel de Sigueira) dies, the first Chinese Jesuit priest.