Home

The Community at Prayer
Reflection by Father Paul M. Baca
May 4, 2008, 7thSunday of Easter

Click to see the readings

I have some exciting memories of Ascension Thursday as we used to know it. The image of Jesus being taken up to heaven and the apostles looking up after him has always intrigued me. "When they had gathered together they asked him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?' He answered them, 'It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth.' When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?'" This always made me think that they could not just remain there looking up, but rather, they had to get busy and get going if they were going to take the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. It was not just the apostles who received the challenge, for we read in today's first reading, "All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer together with some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers."

All of this has convinced me that the challenge of witnessing was extended not only to the apostles, but to the whole community. I have concluded that Jesus challenged all of us who have accepted him and his message to take his teaching to the world to provide hope for the human family even in the darkest hour. Jesus did not ask us to force anyone to believe in what he taught, but rather, as St. Peter told us in the second reading last Sunday, "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope. But do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear."

Why is it that so often it is not the preachers who affect the change, but rather those who hear the word and have the courage to live it? There are so many people who pray constantly, and that is a good thing, but I find it important that we allow prayer to lead us to action. I don't think that we can just pray and then wait for God to miraculously accomplish what we pray for. This is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon that early Christian community and upon us so that we could discern how to bring about God's kingdom of justice and peace. Little wonder that we are encouraged to work for justice if we want peace.

All things are possible, but we have to be convinced of that if we are able to envision a world that reflects the goodness of God. We know that we are all on a journey but this should not be a journey through the valley of darkness, but rather, a journey through God's beautiful creation where we at every step can see the beauty and the goodness of God.

In his life here on earth, Jesus gave us such a beautiful example as to how we are to live as his followers, and that is by being concerned about one another. God has given us and continues to give us many gifts so that the Holy Spirit can work through each one of us in a spirit of love and caring. The Ascension of Jesus tells us that Jesus finished his earthly life as our Messiah or Savior and now he commissions all of us to continue his work on our journey towards our heavenly home.

Visit our Memorial Page for Ann Bazan Poynter
and Herb Poynter

       Send a response to this Reflection

Home