“Men Galilee, why are you standing there
looking at the sky?” I have always liked this little phase at the beginning of
the Acts of the Apostles. For me it sets
the stage for everything that Luke is going to tell Theophilus about Jesus and
this community call Church. Perhaps this question directed at Jesus’ followers
just after he ascended into heaven sits at the center of our life as Church.
Sometimes as a Church I think we are
standing there look up at the sky. We are looking at the past. We are looking
at what use to be and not what is. We are looking back hoping the past will be
the present and the future.
The angel’s question to the disciples
perhaps was not just a question but a challenge. Are you going to continue to stand
here and just look up at the sky? Are you going to live in the past, put your
hope in the past? Or are you going to get busy and be about the ministry Jesus
has entrusted you with, are you going to get busy about living of life.
In the movie the Shawshank Redemption
Andy at one point tells Red, “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really.
Get busy living or get busy dying.” Perhaps that is what the angel is asking
Jesus’ disciples the day of the Ascension. What are they now going to do with
the mission, the ministry that Jesus has entrusted them with? Their choices are
to stand here and keep looking up at the sky, waiting for Jesus to return, thinking
of the past or they can get busy living the life, the faith, the hope, the love
that Jesus has entrusted to them.
We might say that this celebration of
the Feast of the Ascension challenges us in the same way. Are we as a Church
just going to stand around looking, waiting for Jesus, are we going to stand in
the midst of the past and wait or are we as a people of faith going to get busy
living out our faith through the gifts of the Spirit?
Happy Feast of the Ascension everyone
whether you celebrate it today or this coming Sunday, may you truly be busy
about living your life with faith, hope and love in God!
Daily Prayer: O God of all
life, enliven us with the gift of your Spirit to be busy about living not busy
about dying today. Help us with your grace to live life to its fullest and not
stand gazing back into the past hoping for what was. Today is a new day and may
we live it with energy, enthusiasm and faith. Grace our hearts with the fire of
your love that we might bring the gifts of faith, hope and love to a world so
in need of them. Amen!
Runner’s Thought: Let us think of
each run we make as having two distinct parts. I will call them the outward run
and the inward run. The outward run is what we encounter as we run, creation,
people, sounds, experiences, how we feel, the distance involved. The inward run
is what we encounter about ourselves as we run. How we are feeling. What
struggles we have physically, emotionally and spiritually. What we bring on the
run that is within us, good and bad. Both parts of our runs are physical,
emotional and spiritual. So let us be aware, let us listen, and let us focus
outwardly and inwardly because each part of our run can bring us to God.
Happy Ascension everyone, whether you
are in the part of the world celebrating it today or on Sunday! May we always be
people who are busy about living!
The mission in Midland Park, NJ at
Nativity Parish ended last night with a very faith filled celebration of the
Feast of the Ascension. It was a great ending to a wonderful three days. I
truly believe that the faith community of Nativity Parish is alive with God's
gifts of faith, hope and love!
A birthday shout out to Elisa and her
loving family whom I am sure are helping her celebrate today in Framingham, MA!
I am home today just trying to get
caught up. I trust your day is going well where ever you are. We have rain once
again watering the earth so the richness of life can continue. Whether you are softened
with showers today or celebrating the warmth of the sun my hope is that you are
having a great day! If not please know of my ongoing prayers for you that you
will. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment