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THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD  “Out of compassion for us He descended from Heaven  In life one of the hardest things to do is to part ways with a loved one. But what makes it hopeful is when there is a promise of seeing each other in the future. A circumstance which does not only bring tears and sadness, but also reminisce the wonderful memories shared together. Such was the situation of Jesus Christ and His disciples. Forty days after His glorious resurrection, Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven to assume His position at the right hand of God the Father. Before this time, He revealed Himself to His Apostles and visited them many times to strengthen their faith and forestall any despair in them. This was to prove His divine powers and also to give evidence to His followers to spur them on to continue His mission here on earth. Hence, the ascension message: “Preach the Good News and be my witnesses.”  Our first reading describes the scenes of Jesus’ Ascension. The promise of the Holy Spirit and the instruction to be witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. Dear Family in Christ, by extension and through the reception of the sacraments we have also become disciples of Christ, so we have the right to receive the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we need to go out there in our families, amongst friends, work places and in our societies to be authentic witnesses by proclaiming the Good News and evangelizing people. By doing this we become the living evidence of the perpetuation of the mission of Christ. Let your words and actions do the witnessing. Walk the talk! Apostle Paul in our second reading continues his exhortation and affirmation about who Jesus Christ is. By this he implies that our openness to God the Father and the Holy Spirit will enliven and fortify our knowledge and faith in Jesus. So he proves that God revealed His might in the resurrection and the ascension of Christ: thereby exalting Him over all angelic forces. A point that refutes all criticism and false doctrines about the divinity of Jesus. Hence the psalmist proclaims: ”All you people, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:2-3)  Finally, Our gospel narrative brings to the fore Jesus’ last words to His disciples and the scene of His ascension. This culminates God the Father’s divine plan for His Son to return upon the completion of His earthly mission. The Ascension, therefore, becomes the grand finale of His words and works done for us and for our salvation. He is now with God the Father in glory and with us in the Holy Spirit. As His disciples we have been mandated and entrusted with the mission of preaching and teaching the Good News and evangelizing the whole world by bearing witness to Him through our lives. You are the apostles of this 21st century: make an impact in somebody’s life today! Stay Healthy... PRAY.... Keep the Faith...Enjoy the Sunshine.... Let Witnessing Ascend you! Fr. Emmanuel  Comments are closed.
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Fr. EmmanuelFr. Emmanuel hails from Ghana and is passionate about the Gospel and bringing the love of Christ to all people. He speaks several languages, enjoys soccer and cooking, and loves St. Francis of Assisi. Archives
April 2021
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