https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm
Today we celebrate the Feast of
the Ascension of the Lord. Praise be
Jesus Christ – forever and ever!
A couple of weeks ago as I was
leaving the ballpark someone asked me “Deacon what are you doing here?” I answered, “Enjoying my grandbabies playing ball.”
She laughed, “I can’t wait to hear
about it in your homily.” For sure, I thought about that as I prayed
over the scriptures.
They are not babies anymore. They
are growing up from babies to toddlers to children; soon they will teenagers
and young adults.
The transition from baby to
toddler, toddler to child, child to teen are liminal moments. We never stop
growing - always in transition of who we will be. All of us on the threshold of
what God intends them to be.
The reason I know the phrase “liminal
moment” is scripture scholars
define the Ascension a liminal moment,
a time between times, leaving one place and being on the threshold of another -
a time of transition.
That moment written about in today’s
scripture at the end of the Gospel of Luke and the beginning of the Acts of the
Apostles. The time between the ministry of Jesus and the works of the apostles began
at that moment, the ascension. The liminal moment is the transition of the
disciples who followed Jesus to become his Church.
In Luke, Jesus reminds his
disciples of the promise of the Father, the Holy
Spirit, which will cloth them with power from on high. He blesses them
and tells them to go back to the city and get ready for it.
Then Jesus ascended into heaven.
His Church did what Jesus asked, “Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they went and preach the
Gospel “the Good News” to all of creation.”
The greatness of the power of
God moves us to what we are intended to be.
Today, many are stuck in a liminal
moment. Stuck between where they have been and where they are going. Even some
baptized Christians have not open themselves to the power of God, the Holy
Spirit.
Maybe, it is apathy on their part.
Maybe, it is the failure of others to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Maybe, it is the indifference of society as a whole.
This
are all symptoms of hearts that have become dull in hope, love, joy and so much
more. A dull heart can lose faith. It is a reason many despair. It is the cause
of many fears. It is a reason many are unhappy in this life.
This heart becomes apathetic because
this world dulls the heart. The dulled apathetic hearts testify to the tragedies
and injustice around us.
However, hope is in the power of God. It enlightens the eyes of our heart. The
promise of God kindles in us faith, love, joy, peace, and hope. The fruits of
the Holy Spirit clothe us with the power of light.
God’s power that raised Christ
from the dead and seated Christ in a place of honor in heaven; God’s power made
all things and holds all creation in existence.
The world will continue as it is
until a change comes. A change promised by Jesus. He blessed us with the power
to bring change. That is the power the world needs.
God’s power to bring us from that liminal
moment between what is and was to what He intends us to be.
Friends: May the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge
of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be
enlightened to know the hope that belongs to his call, the
riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and the surpassing
greatness of his power for us who believe….
May you be blessed to be who God intended you to be.
Be good, be holy and go out in the
world with joy praising God. May Jesus Christ be praised forever and ever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment