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From the Pastor's Desk: May 21, 2023
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From the Pastor’s Desk: May 21, 2023
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. The Gospel reading comes from the conclusion of the Gospel of Matthew and it is the first reading that gives us the account about Jesus’ Ascension and His promise to be always with His disciples. The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. The Ascension is an important Christian feast attesting and celebrating the reality of the God-Man Jesus Christ's returning to the Father, and His second and final coming - the future parousia. The Ascension is the final part of the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ- His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Along with the Resurrection, the Ascension functioned as a proof of Jesus' claim that He was the Messiah. Although Jesus ascended into heaven, but it does not mean Jesus is gone. The scriptures assure us of this when they testify that He would not leave us "orphans” and that "I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world.”
In the time between the Ascension and Second Coming, our task is to recognize Christ all around us and that our service is indeed a key part of our Gospel mission. Today's Feast, then, should not leave any impression that Jesus is gone; it should in fact remind us that we are to be Christ's disciples and with the power given to us to continue the work of Jesus and be His presence in the world.
The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Tosca. It was during his battle with terminal cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best work. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest, and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his disciples, 'If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to finish it.' He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. His disciples gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in La Scala Opera House in Milan in 1926, and Toscanini, Puccini’s favorite student, conducted it. The opera went beautifully, until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced, 'Thus far the master wrote, but he died.' There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience and, with tears in his eyes, announced, 'But his disciples finished his work.' The opera closed to thunderous applause, and to a permanent place in the annals of great works.
The work – the proclamation of the Gospel is our call now. The entire mission of the Son of God is entrusted to us as the bearers of the Good News. This mission that will always be accompanied by the Divine Presence of the Holy Spirit as the source of heavenly power: "I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” The apostles awaited the gift of the Spirit who empowered them as the Church to do just that – to continue the work of the Master. With the Ascension begins another period of Salvation History – the time of the Church: “Just as the Father sent me, so do I send you” (Jn 20:21).
In the upcoming weeks you will see some work being done on the campus. The St. Luke Community Growth Fund, that we have established nearly ten years ago, has another project to be accomplished. It is a two phased project that provides improvements to the parking lot including the soccer field. On the parking lot we plan to replace island/parking curbs and create a pedestrian walkway in front of the Parish Hall and Parish Office that will result in enhancing the area and providing additional parking spaces. I greatly appreciate your patience and the generous support that you offered over the years to SLCC.
“It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of destruction.” -St. Edmund
I wish you a blessed week! Let us find strength and meaning in the Spirit who dwells in us who are baptized- that with enthusiasm, commitment and love – and without questions, fear or hesitation – take up and joyfully proclaim Jesus’ saving mission, one holy moment at a time.
Mary, Mother of our Savior – pray for us!
With prayers, Fr. Andy
