The Feast of the Ascension celebrates the moment when Jesus returned to our Heavenly Father following His Resurrection from the dead. This year the feast coincides with World Communications Day. The theme for this year’s Communications Day is taken from the Book of Exodus. “That you may tell your children and grandchildren: Life becomes history”

The pandemic has forced us to tell children and grandchildren a lot of things…families have been forced to fill the role of school teachers. While many felt unprepared for the task their unique place in the lives of their children and grandchildren undoubtedly enriched the whole enterprise. Textbook lessons illustrated by real life experiences and incidents from family life and history gave children so very much more than a schoolroom could. Stories about present and former generations and their courage in facing hardship dissolve the fears that overwhelm children during pandemics or others time that feel threatening.

The story of Jesus’ faithfulness is the one that teaches every generation that fear and even death can be defeated. Neither death nor destruction is the last word about anyone of God’s chosen. Jesus’ return to the Father is not something to fear or make us feel distant from Him or abandoned by Him. The life he entered is ours too. In today’s Gospel Jesus said,”Now this is eternal life, that they should know You the only True God, and the One whom You sent, Jesus Christ”. That is our story and the very best one we can teach and pass on.

Here is the prayer card for tonight’s Novena.

It has been thirty-five days since we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection at Easter. But it seems like thirty-five weeks since we began living with the corona virus and the disruptions in every aspect of our lives! We wonder if life will ever be like it was before the pandemic as we ponder what it may be like after.

This weekend’s readings give us a look at a “before and after” in the lives of the apostles. John’s gospel recounts Jesus’ words to His chosen as He prepares them for the moment when He will return to His Father at the Ascension. He assures them that they will not be left alone. He will send them the Spirit to comfort, heal, console and strengthen them.

The Acts of the Apostles tell us what it was really like for them after Jesus’ Ascension. They did receive the Spirit! And fortified by this they preached to the Samaritans, a group weary of prejudice against them and wary of this new group and their preaching. But in hearing the Good News they experienced Jesus as being among them. And the apostles confirmed this by calling down the Spirit to seal their faith and hope.

Jesus has been with us, before and during this pandemic. The Spirit we received in Baptism and Confirmation has enabled us to reach out in prayer and compassion and be united while living apart from family and friends.                  

Join us for Mass at 9 am every Sunday. Mass will continue to be available throughout the day here on our website and on our YouTube and Facebook pages.

The May 15 edition of The New Freeman is available at the link below.
http://www.dioceseofsaintjohn.org/News/TNF-05-12.aspx