"It is up to US now, to be and bring the Light of the Risen Christ to all the world – more at this time in history than in any other time in recent memory!"
The great feast of the Ascension calls us to do two seeming contrary things, simultaneously, at the same time: but with God's ingenuity we can do it, because he asks us to do it. These are the two things: "KEEP LOOKING UP at me, Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, glorified, and reigning as King of the Universe, as your Advocate, as your Intercessor, as your Priest, as Your Shepherd, as your VERY BEST OF FRIENDS;" but also, at the same time: "look all around you at all the people you see and those who are far from you and you don't even see: your family, your nation, and people in all nations everywhere: every single one of you is now eligible to be here with me: in Paradise, in joy, in peace, and a never ending dynamic communion of Divine Friendship: in our Father's house!
Now the way you look up, and around at the same time: is to FOCUS ON MY GREATEST GIFT: THE EUCHARIST! And in this Eucharist you will see The Broken Bread of Life as the Holy Bread of Friendship: you will also see my Cross and Resurrection. When you think about how the Bread is Me, (God's Friendship become a man like you); and you think that I gave my life for you, my "friends," so that you could truly be my friends again and friends of my Father – then you can see how you can do both things at the same time. When you adore the bread and eat the bread that is me, friendship; then, you are spiritually strengthened to go out and bring that friendship to others: and in fact, unless you do that: then you really do not understand me, the Friendship, the Cross, the Resurrection or how powerful and helpful they can really be.
Now what qualifies you to participate in Eucharist: to be fed eucharistically at this table: is to be baptized and confirmed in your belief: something that Jesus commanded his apostles do for others moments before he ascended into the heavens.
You are baptized, you are confirmed, you are communicants: therefore
you have the ability to look up and around at the same time: choosing to help and friend other people because God has helped and friended you first. This ought to be producing much joy in the heart – the very joy that Jesus wants us to experience in ever increasing amounts, and promised we would. It's in the doing, the friending, that we find the joy, the peace and the Life!
Earlier this week in the readings Jesus told everyone that those who know about these things, are moved by God's grace to investigate and accept them, but do not believe in them will be held accountable one day – and this is simply because he wants to make life as easy as possible for everyone: while allowing everyone absolute freedom of choice to make their own decisions, he strongly urges that everyone (before making any lasting decisions) at least get" inside information" from him and his Father as to the best way to live life in this world: and how our eternal destiny depends on these decisions This is the job of the Church, this is my job: to present the information to faithful members and to everyone else so they can integrate as much of the "Light-giving-information" as their now "rightly-forming conscience" leads them to – so that the yoke of life will be easy, the burden light: and it will end with a joyful reunion of all of us one day (hopefully) at a brightly lit throne in heaven where Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God his Father and ours!
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
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