28/05/2006 - ASCENSION OF THE LORD - YEAR B
First Reading Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 46/47
Second Reading Ephesians 4:1-13 Gospel Mark 16:15-20
You shall not kill! The diverse cultures of the world differ greatly even in
the value they place on human life! Peoples of ancient times, as well as the
present, who have not been touched by the Evangelical message, attribute a relative
value to human life. Killing comes easy: babies, as well as the aged; relatives,
as well as strangers, the "guilty" and the innocent. We, having absorbed
a mentality illuminated by the Holy Spirit for many years, maintain that human
life is sacred from conception to its natural end. It is a gift from God; it
is a reality which we serve, not own. We are God's servants and His collaborators,
for every human being. It is because of this that we consider it a grave sin
to recommend and provide abortion; to neglect to provide assistance in case
of an accident; to neglect those who, due to a handicap, might not be able to
take care of themselves; or to leave a sick person to his/her own defences.
Our society also acquired legislation for the value of human life; at least,
until the conscience of every citizen was filled with Christian faith. When
these values began to diminish, banal interests and selfishness modified the
laws and their interpretations, at least, as they pertain to abortion. There,
also, appears to be a tendency to modify the laws so as to provide death to
the sick and the aged who, more or less consciously, express such a wish. We
know, though, that the Commandment "You shall not kill" does not come
from human laws, but from the mouth of God! Let us, then, continue to respect
life until its own natural conclusion. In fact, we know that even suffering
has an incalculable value: even through suffering, God can be served, in His
mysterious designs of salvation!
Today, we unite with the Apostles in raising our eyes towards heaven, as though
to follow the Lord's glance, hidden from our sight, in order to have a place
at the right hand of the Father! And so we, too, hear the angels tell us that
Jesus will come again. He will come again and, that is why we live without regret
and without missing Him; we live by preparing the earth for His coming! We turn
our glance towards the earth so that we can make it a welcoming garden, a place
worthy of the glory of Jesus. Through Him, we have received the light, the grace,
the strength and the love to change the world.
The lack of the visible presence of the Lord, the not seeing Jesus, whom the
Apostles saw and that we would have wanted to see, is not deprivation. We, who
do not see Him, have the opportunity to await Him and prepare the world for
His coming, just as the disciple did. With their words, we proclaim His salvations
to every creature. With their words, we bring the Good News to the whole world
so that men may believe and, by believing, they will be saved. Jesus, Himself,
promises to be with us, even though we don't see Him. He will be present anywhere,
if we speak of Him with love, and His presence will be evident in all His marvellous
works.
The Ascension of Jesus in heaven marks the moment in which the Church began
to function in the first person. From that moment, the Apostles began to make
decisions, to make choices and to move freely and assuredly throughout a world
which, at times appears to be waiting for them; yet, sometimes treats them with
the same hostility with which they treated the Lord. Now they be begin to take
His directions seriously. They await the strength of the Holy Spirit, through
His inspirations, which will render them testimony of the love of the Father,
revealed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Their testimony may come in
many forms, all guided by the wisdom and the knowledge of God. He will accomplish
many wonders and miracles in order to prove the truth of His words, or He may
use their suffering and martyrdom to open the doors of the hearts of individuals,
or entire peoples, to faith.
History is rich in many forms of testimony given by the disciples to their Lord!
History awaits my testimony and yours, as well. I know that Jesus is in heaven:
I don't expect to see Him. Instead, I will commit to live His Word, so that
my life may be a place where others can see His love and His wisdom! I will
commit to live in unity with the other faithful, because my testimony, alone,
would say too little, and it would not influence the mentality of the world.
My testimony must contribute in expressing, above all, the unity of the Church:
it is the Church that brings Jesus' salvations to the world! In the letter to
the Ephesians, Saint Paul is firm on this subject. All the different gifts which
God bestowed to each of the faithful must be an instrument in reciprocal edification.
The love of God which I received brings forth the love which you received, and
allows it to bear fruit! We have all received different gifts, but all are useful
and necessary in order to form one body, the Body of Christ; that Body, through
which the love of Jesus, who waits for us with the Father, is presented to the
world!