This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. Last weekend we commemorated the Ascension: Jesus returning to heaven “to prepare a place” for us. It is a message of hope that sometimes overshadows what Jesus tells the disciples right before taken up: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That commission is meant for us now as well as for the disciples. Now that Jesus has ascended, we are his body upon earth. It is not enough to believe in, love, and worship him privately. We can almost hear him say, “That’s great that you love me. Now go do something about it.”
What does it look like to live this commission? It means a commitment to work for justice in our parish, local, national and global communities even when doing so forces us to face our prejudices. It also means diverting hard-earned income away from our own enjoyment in order to support those who work directly with the destitute, the homeless, the sick, the imprisoned, and the refugee.
We are made in the image and likeness of God, who is love. He showed the depth of his love by making a gift of his Son on the cross. He has commissioned us to go and bear much fruit.
Remember your clausura; “Christ is Counting on You”!
De Colores, Deacon Doug
Spring 2015