+ In our gospel passage today Jesus addresses the obvious intensive
relationship that he enters into with us by means of his ascension into heaven. He has already explained to the disciples
why it is better that he goes from them, so
that the Spirit can come – who will be permanent and will fill the
membership of the Church and guide and direct it until the end of time; but in
a gentle and compassionate kind of way Jesus addresses those who have become
his close friends and confidants: they are sad because of the physical
separation: they will not be able to see
him any more as they are accustomed to. And this is true, not as they are
accustomed to, but they will still be able to see him quite well with the eyes of faith; they will
experience his nearness even better than before because he will now reside
deeply within their hearts, and he will walk with them in a very real and
supportive kind of way.
It
really is the same for us who have become separated from our loved
ones in death. The physical separation can be enormous; but the new presence of
the loved one can be even greater than the previous one: with the eyes of faith; for there truly can be a new awareness, a
new presence, a new closeness, and new experience of being saturated with the
person’s love: this ought very much help in the grieving process that is always
a part of such loss. But just as the ascension of Jesus is rightly considered a
loss and a greater gain, so too can be the loss of our family and friends be
considered the same.
We love you Jesus who has gone
yet stayed; we love you family, friends who have done the same.
God
mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. Sing
praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise.
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