Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

May 5, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

We move closer to the conclusion of the Easter Season. As we do so, the Church celebrates two important solemnities. On Thursday, May 9, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. On Sunday, May 19 we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost.

The Ascension is one of the great mysteries in the life of Jesus, the Son of God. Our stained-glass window, on the east side of the church, depicting this second glorious mystery of the Rosary, captures well the sense of mystery for those who experienced the Ascension of the Lord. The figures at the bottom of the window suggests many of the possible responses that witnesses to the Ascension may have had: awe, wonder, arrangement, prayerfulness, even confusion.

Yes, the Ascension may suggest return, but I do not think it suggests departure. Jesus is always with us, as he promises, “I am with you always.” (Mt 28:20) To say that Jesus “returns” to the Father is more accurate. So what does Jesus’ return mean for us. Two comments from the Catechism of the Catholic Church helps us to appreciate the mystery of the Ascension. “Christ’s body was glorified at the moment of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus’ final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand.”

In another place from the Catechism: “Only the one who ‘came from the Father’ can return to the Father: Christ Jesus. ‘No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.’ Left to its own natural powers, humanity does not have access to the ’Father’s house’ to God’s life and happiness. Only Christ can open to man such access that we, his members, might have confidence that we too shall go where he, our Head and our Source, has preceded us.” (These statements from the Catechism are rich in theology but read slowly and meditatively, they help us to appreciate the deep mystery of the Ascension.

Ten days following the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, on Sunday, May 19, we observe Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Person of the Holy Spirit. In very straightforward, non-theological language, we might say the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift that “keeps on giving.” The Holy Spirit inspires, guides, protects, and leads. We listen and pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. During this time between the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, we have a special opportunity to consider and pray for the grace to be open to all that the Holy Spirit brings to us.

May this special time between the Ascension and Pentecost be a peaceful one for us all.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Tom

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