Ascension gives us Hope!
june 1, 2025 | ascension sunday, Year C
Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23; Luke 24:46-53
Dear brothers and sisters, 40 days after the resurrection, we celebrate today, the ascension of the Lord into heaven. We celebrate this ascension after the death of Pope Francis and the election of a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV. It is the year of the Jubilee of hope. Such a hope is a source of renewal, strength and a guide for the future. The ascension of Christ is our hope, a source of renewed faith, invites us seek forgiveness, and focus on spiritual life, with the motto "Hope does not disappoint" (Romans 5:5)
Hoping in the things of heaven
The Ascension into heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ invites every human heart to ascend with him. In other words, the ascension invites us to set our hearts on things of heaven just as Christ is now seated in heaven. (Cf. Colossians 3:1-4). The ascension encourages Christians to focus on spiritual values and priorities rather than worldly ones. Do we focus on life after death?
Singers of Hope in this desperate world
The ascension of our Lord into heaven encourages us to become witnesses of the Good news:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Friends, Through his Ascension, we are to become singers of hope in a culture marked by individualism, rage, abuse, of the helpless, chronic diseases, selfishness, injustices, hunger, despair, violence, discrimination, hatred and greed in order to sing the melody hope, love, mercy, peace, justice and reconciliation. The ascension invites us to become signers of hope in our Church and in every area of our life where there is darkness.
Our final hope is heaven as St. Augustine teaches that the Ascension of the Lord is not a separation from humanity but a fulfillment of his mission. While Christ ascended alone, we, as believers have ascended with him through our union with Christ. Even being now in heaven, Christ remains permanently connected with us through his powerful and loving spiritual presence.
“I will be with you always till the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20)
Jesus, I trust in you!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC
Living the Gospel this week. The Effects of the sacrament of confirmation
Many candidates received confirmation last week, May 28, 2025. The question we ask is what happens when one is confirmed?
In its no. 1302, the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that, the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. There are five important effects:
1) Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: - it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"
2) It unites us more firmly to Christ;
3) It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
4) It renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
5) It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross
(CCC. No. 1303).
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC