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FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK……
MAY 23, 2004 ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
"Don't just stand there! Do something!" Have you ever heard anyone say this to you? Perhaps you've said something like this to someone yourself. These words are usually spoken in a time of crisis. They came to mind when I read the first reading for today's celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. As Jesus ascended into heaven before the Apostles' very eyes, St. Luke tells us that two men dressed in white garments spoke to them saying "MEN OF GALILEE, WHY ARE YOU STANDING THERE LOOKING AT THE SKY? THIS JESUS WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN WILL RETURN IN THE SAME WAY AS YOU HAVE SEEN HIM GOING INTO HEAVEN." (See Acts 1: 11)
Sometimes we Christians have been criticized for being so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. We cannot look just toward the future promised return of Our Lord and going to glory with Him. We also must look back at the past to see where we have come from and to the present moment to see where we are headed.
Our focus as we look toward Jesus' return at the end of the age must be that of making the best use of the present time that is left to us to advance the Kingdom of God in our midst. St. Paul admonishes us this way: "WATCH CAREFULLY THEN HOW YOU LIVE, NOT AS FOOLISH PERSONS BUT AS WISE, MAKING THE BEST OF THE OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL." (See Ephesians 5: 16)
A good question for you and me to ponder this week would be "What are the 'opportunities' that may be coming my way and how can I make the best of them for advancing the Kingdom of God in my life?" Do I have my sleeves rolled up ready to go to work for the Lord in preparing for His return or am I just sitting there twiddling my thumbs? Let's resolve to get busy so that He'll find us hard at work when He returns.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Raymond J. Tintle, OFM
Pastor
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