Today is Mother’s Day.  But it is a day for everyone…..What do I mean?  Well, it is a day on which we should all be reflecting on how we have nurtured another person or persons and also acknowledge those who have done the same for us.  To single out only those in our midst who have given birth is to miss this wonderful opportunity.  We also acknowledge that this day is painful for some:  here in our midst are people who couldn’t relate to their mom’s because their mothers were mentally ill or toxic; parents whose children have miscarried or died in some other way; childless men and women for whom even seeing someone else’s baby is painful; and also women who had no other choice than to abort their child.

What is good for us to recognize today is that God is our Mother and Father –and Our Parent God gives each of us the capacity to offer that parent love to whomever we meet.  For those of you for whom this is a happy day, we certainly hope you have an opportunity to celebrate that wonderful joy.

My own mother died this past Mar. 15 three days away from her 95th birthday. I miss her terribly but I am very happy that she is now in heaven.  Throughout her life she gave us as a family the strength and skills to stick together with support and affection in her absence.  No doubt some of you could say the same about your own parents’ passing.  This is a key reflection for us in coming to understand the meaning of the Ascension.  The first thing we need to grasp is that we must move beyond the image of Jesus physically rising up into the sky.  Artists have portrayed this feast with a bunch of clouds out of which are dangling Jesus’ feet— based on the text:  “As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.”  This is a poetic image, not to be taken literally.

The feast of Ascension carries far more depth than that.  It celebrates the fact that the historical Jesus was no longer in their midst and yet before he passed on he prepared the community to carry on in his absence.  So the feast is more about the formation of the community and the mission of the church.

In the first reading from Acts we hear how Jesus taught and instructed the disciples, the early community. He told them about the kingdom, he shared table with them, he gave them a promise of the Holy Spirit.  He told them also that he expected them to carry on…..be witnesses….share that parent love….His whole life was an example for them on how to do that.

In Ephesians we hear how God can enlighten us so that we can live in hope.  This is what every parent wants for their family upon their passing.  Stick together and give each other hope.  Jesus said “I will be with you until the end of time.”

Then, finally, in the Gospel we hear how Jesus’ friends were given the special power of the Holy Spirit…. What did this mean?  Not only were they to be beacons of hope and joy, but they were to model  forgiveness.   Forgiveness is not possible without the Holy Spirit.

I and my three siblings are all very different, we don’t always agree.  Many times we are at odds over misunderstandings and fail to honor our differences.  I know that forgiving each other fully and looking for one another’s gifts and strengths and affirming one another is the best way that we can honor our deceased parents.   It is exactly what Jesus is expecting of us, now, the people of God, the church.

If Jesus were here he would say, CARRY ON; I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE THE GOOD NEWS FOR ALL….!   Taking up this task is how we celebrate the Ascension in 2013!Today is Mother’s Day.  But it is a day for everyone…..What do I mean?  Well, it is a day on which we should all be reflecting on how we have nurtured another person or persons and also acknowledge those who have done the same for us.  To single out only those in our midst who have given birth is to miss this wonderful opportunity.  We also acknowledge that this day is painful for some:  here in our midst are people who couldn’t relate to their mom’s because their mothers were mentally ill or toxic; parents whose children have miscarried or died in some other way; childless men and women for whom even seeing someone else’s baby is painful; and also women who had no other choice than to abort their child.

What is good for us to recognize today is that God is our Mother and Father –and Our Parent God gives each of us the capacity to offer that parent love to whomever we meet.  For those of you for whom this is a happy day, we certainly hope you have an opportunity to celebrate that wonderful joy.

My own mother died this past Mar. 15 three days away from her 95th birthday. I miss her terribly but I am very happy that she is now in heaven.  Throughout her life she gave us as a family the strength and skills to stick together with support and affection in her absence.  No doubt some of you could say the same about your own parents’ passing.  This is a key reflection for us in coming to understand the meaning of the Ascension.  The first thing we need to grasp is that we must move beyond the image of Jesus physically rising up into the sky.  Artists have portrayed this feast with a bunch of clouds out of which are dangling Jesus’ feet— based on the text:  “As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.”  This is a poetic image, not to be taken literally.

The feast of Ascension carries far more depth than that.  It celebrates the fact that the historical Jesus was no longer in their midst and yet before he passed on he prepared the community to carry on in his absence.  So the feast is more about the formation of the community and the mission of the church.

In the first reading from Acts we hear how Jesus taught and instructed the disciples, the early community. He told them about the kingdom, he shared table with them, he gave them a promise of the Holy Spirit.  He told them also that he expected them to carry on…..be witnesses….share that parent love….His whole life was an example for them on how to do that.

In Ephesians we hear how God can enlighten us so that we can live in hope.  This is what every parent wants for their family upon their passing.  Stick together and give each other hope.  Jesus said “I will be with you until the end of time.”

Then, finally, in the Gospel we hear how Jesus’ friends were given the special power of the Holy Spirit…. What did this mean?  Not only were they to be beacons of hope and joy, but they were to model  forgiveness.   Forgiveness is not possible without the Holy Spirit.

I and my three siblings are all very different, we don’t always agree.  Many times we are at odds over misunderstandings and fail to honor our differences.  I know that forgiving each other fully and looking for one another’s gifts and strengths and affirming one another is the best way that we can honor our deceased parents.   It is exactly what Jesus is expecting of us, now, the people of God, the church.

If Jesus were here he would say, CARRY ON; I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE THE GOOD NEWS FOR ALL….!   Taking up this task is how we celebrate the Ascension in 2013!Today is Mother’s Day.  But it is a day for everyone…..What do I mean?  Well, it is a day on which we should all be reflecting on how we have nurtured another person or persons and also acknowledge those who have done the same for us.  To single out only those in our midst who have given birth is to miss this wonderful opportunity.  We also acknowledge that this day is painful for some:  here in our midst are people who couldn’t relate to their mom’s because their mothers were mentally ill or toxic; parents whose children have miscarried or died in some other way; childless men and women for whom even seeing someone else’s baby is painful; and also women who had no other choice than to abort their child.

What is good for us to recognize today is that God is our Mother and Father –and Our Parent God gives each of us the capacity to offer that parent love to whomever we meet.  For those of you for whom this is a happy day, we certainly hope you have an opportunity to celebrate that wonderful joy.

My own mother died this past Mar. 15 three days away from her 95th birthday. I miss her terribly but I am very happy that she is now in heaven.  Throughout her life she gave us as a family the strength and skills to stick together with support and affection in her absence.  No doubt some of you could say the same about your own parents’ passing.  This is a key reflection for us in coming to understand the meaning of the Ascension.  The first thing we need to grasp is that we must move beyond the image of Jesus physically rising up into the sky.  Artists have portrayed this feast with a bunch of clouds out of which are dangling Jesus’ feet— based on the text:  “As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.”  This is a poetic image, not to be taken literally.

The feast of Ascension carries far more depth than that.  It celebrates the fact that the historical Jesus was no longer in their midst and yet before he passed on he prepared the community to carry on in his absence.  So the feast is more about the formation of the community and the mission of the church.

In the first reading from Acts we hear how Jesus taught and instructed the disciples, the early community. He told them about the kingdom, he shared table with them, he gave them a promise of the Holy Spirit.  He told them also that he expected them to carry on…..be witnesses….share that parent love….His whole life was an example for them on how to do that.

In Ephesians we hear how God can enlighten us so that we can live in hope.  This is what every parent wants for their family upon their passing.  Stick together and give each other hope.  Jesus said “I will be with you until the end of time.”

Then, finally, in the Gospel we hear how Jesus’ friends were given the special power of the Holy Spirit…. What did this mean?  Not only were they to be beacons of hope and joy, but they were to model  forgiveness.   Forgiveness is not possible without the Holy Spirit.

I and my three siblings are all very different, we don’t always agree.  Many times we are at odds over misunderstandings and fail to honor our differences.  I know that forgiving each other fully and looking for one another’s gifts and strengths and affirming one another is the best way that we can honor our deceased parents.   It is exactly what Jesus is expecting of us, now, the people of God, the church.

If Jesus were here he would say, CARRY ON; I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE THE GOOD NEWS FOR ALL….!   Taking up this task is how we celebrate the Ascension in 2013!