One of the amazing things about the way we celebrate the key mysteries of our faith is that we don’t just celebrate them for a day but we celebrate them in “seasons.” Easter for us is not just the day Christ resurrected from the dead, but it is the continuous fifty days after the resurrection day, culminating next Sunday with the Solemnity of the Pentecost. Deacon Cody was greeting people “Happy Easter” after Mass last Sunday, and some people had a look of bewilderment, probably not too sure how to
respond. Yes, we are still in Easter! Today within this season of Easter, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Traditionally, this Solemnity is celebrated on Thursday of the 6
th Sunday of Easter, but in most of the dioceses in the US just like ours, it is moved to the 7
th Sunday of Easter to ensure greater participation among the faithful and to underscore the theological importance of this solemnity.
The Ascension of the Lord is the formal “return” of Jesus to the Father. The forty days after Christ’s
resurrection were really opportunities and avenues for the disciples to clarify their fears, doubts and reaffirm once again their faith in Christ after it had been tested and challenged during the Passion and Death of Jesus. The post-resurrection appearances and interactions of Jesus with his disciples were meant to prepare them to be “on their own” and to be able to continue what Christ had
started with renewed vigor and strength. Even though the disciples might had been sad that Christ would be leaving them again “physically”, it was an important and crucial step for them to grow and mature in their discipleship. It’s about time that they “man up” and step up! Jesus often reminded them not to “cling” to him because he needed to go away and return to the Father. Christ recognized the need for them to let go of his physical presence so that they would be able to realize the full potentials of their call. This is true even in the dynamics of human relationships. Just remember the first time you had to leave your son or daughter in their dorms as they began college — there was probably fear, and there was that strong feeling of not wanting to let go, but you know that it is necessary to “leave them behind” and on their own so that they could flourish and realize their best potentials so that when they return to you they would have already realized the best version of themselves. For those who are
suffering from chronic and debilitating sickness, it is normal to fear what is next because we have learned to love our humanity and have established significant relationships, but in order for us to experience the “best” that God can offer, we have to pass over from this world to the garden of paradise, where our true flourishing will happen.
Aside from this great solemnity of Ascension, which we celebrate in our liturgy this weekend, we also
remember in a very special way our mothers as we celebrate Mother’s Day. Speaking of letting go as a theme for the Ascension of Christ, our mothers are probably the first people who know what letting go is like so that we can all realize our best potentials. So, on their special day, we keep them in our thoughts through this special prayer:
God of Love, listen to this prayer.
God of Holy People, of Sarah, Ruth, and Rebekah;
God of holy Elizabeth, mother of John,
of Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus,
bend down Your ear to this request and
bless the mother of our family.
Bless her with the strength of Your spirit,
she who has taught her children how to stand and walk. Bless her with the melody of Your love, she who has shared how to speak, how to sing and how to pray to You.
Bless her with a place at Your eternal dinner table, she who has fed and nurtured the life that was formed within her while still helpless but embraced in her love.
Bless her today, now, in this lifetime, with good things, with health. Bless her with joy, love, laughter, and
pride in her child/children and surround her with many good friends.
May she who carried life in her womb be carried one day to Your divine embrace: there, for all eternity, to rejoice with her family and friends.
This blessing and all grace, we pray, descend upon the mother of our family: in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(From Prayers for the Domestic Church/A Handbook
for Worship in the Home by Edward Hays)