Pastor's Corner

12^th May, 2024

The account of the First Reading today is an important one. From the first chapter of the Books of Acts, the reading describes the disciples sharing a meal with the risen Christ, where they ask him if he is going to establish Israel's sovereignty. He answers with the promise of the Holy Spirit and the Ascension to the Father. The meal, sign of the Eucharist par excellence, and the salvific presence transformed into the promise and joy of Christ's enduring presence, invite us into a deeper understanding of the solemnity that the Church celebrates today. The Gospel of this liturgical cycle B associates the Ascension of the Lord with the sending forth of the Eleven.

In the letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul emphatically promises to pray for the community so that they ma be enlightened with wisdom to understand the revealed mysteries of the Christ. We, too, rejoice with the Church today for Christ's victory over death through his resurrection and ascension to the Father. His total surrender out of love for humanity is a clear invitation for those who want to serve him, to love others in his name. With some creativity, the community's liturgical team could translate the mandate of Christ to the Eleven in contemporary terms: What are the demons that need to be exorcised in our times? What or who are the snakes? How does the snake's poison damage the spiritual journey of our faithful?

Rev. Juan J. Sosa
Pastor