The Ascension of the Lord May 21st
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and
next Sunday, we end the Easter Season with the celebration
of the coming of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost Sunday.
This Easter Season has been filled with so much life.
As we have been hearing the story of the beginning of the
Church from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how they
experienced so much. Many more were added to their
numbers. Everywhere the apostles went they appointed
presbyters (priests) to care for the local church.
We have celebrated Baptisms, First Confessions, First Holy
Communions, Confirmations, and have received converts
from other Christian denominations, and have
sacramentalized many marriages; that is to say, we would
have added many to our number. Now we begin to prepare
to gather many more for preparation to receive the
sacraments next year. I pray that Our parish community
will continue to grow, and I pray, we will fill our church
and school. The circumstance of the pandemic was a
blessing in disguise for St. Joseph Parish. Pray that we will
continue to experience a renewal. After Jesus “was lifted
up, and a cloud took him from their sight, … suddenly two
men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They
said, ‘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’.” As these words are written for us in
our first reading today, we must hear them spoken to us as
well. Just as Jesus returned to the Glory of the Father He
will come again. Now, more than ever, we cannot stay here
– “standing there looking at the sky.” We must get busy.
As Jesus sent out his disciples to be witnesses to all the
nations, so, we to must be witnesses. It is you and I that
must prepare the world for Jesus’ return. You who have
received sacraments must be witnesses of this new life.
Show all those around you that you share in the divine life
of God. Let others see and experience by the way you treat
others that you belong to Christ. For the rest of us who
have renewed our faith on Easter Sunday, let us continue to
walk beside those who have been added to our number, the
young and the old alike. Let us encourage one another in
being faithful Catholics. To be a faithful Catholic is to be a
faithful child of God; they both go together. If you see a
brother or sister falling, help them get back up. If you have
fallen, then humbly accept the help of a brother or sister to
get back up. As faithful Catholics and faithful children of
God, not one of us is an island. We are attached to one
another and because of the reception of the Eucharist we
are made one with Jesus. Let us not lose patience with one
another but grow in love – the same love that Jesus has
shown us.
May we boldly continue our story as we live out our faith.
Blessings to all,
Fr. Steven Guitron