Gone... to be with us

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

May 17, 2026 - Acts 1: 1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28: 16-20

It was just after the vigil mass of Ascension, a youngster was overheard speaking to her friends, almost arguing, 'but, why did the disciples just let Jesus go? They should have created a ruckus and made sure Jesus couldn't go. I would have done it, if it were me!' The young assistant parish priest thought it was a good point for him to offer an explanation as to what Ascension of Christ truly means. For many of us too, who think Jesus need not have gone, the explanation could be a crucial fact to remember.

Jesus has gone; but he has not abandoned us, as he himself had promised. Jesus' ascension does not mean Jesus has gone away but Jesus has gone up to be with us more than before. If Jesus had continued to stay on in that incarnate form forever (think of it just an hypothesis), he would have remained in Jerusalem, Judea and the surroundings. But Jesus went up to the Father and thus he has begun to stay with every one worldwide. As Jesus promises in the gospel today: I shall be with you till the end of times. To be with us, Jesus had to go; he went, and that is what we celebrate today - the Ascension.

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, distancing himself from us! It was a way of involving himself more into our lives. To be close to all, and not just to a few! Jesus goes, so that he can be everywhere and with everyone and always!

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, forgetting his self emptying! Jesus gave up the status of being God and emptied himself. Going back to the father is not merely taking up once again the Godhood but becoming the mediator. We have a mediator par excellence!

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, that he is done with the humanity! Jesus continues to challenge humanity to grow up, and follow him to the Father's house. Jesus gives us a roadmap, a precedence, a clear plan of life. Keep growing until you ascend to the Father.

Jesus would not have kept his promise, "Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age," if he were not to ascend to his Father. In fact, in ascension we remember the fact that he is gone to his father, he is gone so that he can be with us always and everywhere. The second reading explains to us that Jesus has ascended to his Father and sits on His right, thus being present to us universally and incessantly.

The event that we celebrate today, has three biddings for us to hearken to, the three things that the readings speak to us:

The first message is: GO! Why are you standing and staring at the sky... he is gone, now it is time for you to go! Jesus ascends to the Father to remind us that we are not permanent here, and our permanent abode is elsewhere. "We are longing for a better country; the heavenly one!" says the letter to the Hebrews (Cf. 11:16). Ascension, is a reminder to go, to keep going, not to get fixed, not to grow complacent, not to get stuck! Again the movement upwards is very significant in this regard.

The second message is: GO and PROCLAIM! The Lord commissions the disciples as they surround Him for the final farewell. It is a parting commission, the last wish - that the believers go and make disciples. Making disciples is first of all through inspiration, through the contagious fire within, through the life style that challenges even the onlooker to get closer in order that he or she may understand what makes all the difference that there is. To proclaim is the parting task entrusted to us!

The third message is: GO, PROCLAIM and FEAR NOT! As we heard the Lord saying a few days ago to St. Paul: 'Go on speaking, and do not be silent... for I am with you (Acts 18:9,10). The Ascension of the Lord fills us with hope, a hope that the Lord is ever with us. This hope rules out any fear of future and judgement. It is only in the absence of fear that love gets deepened. Fear not, hope in me, for I am with you, I will be with you until the end of the ages.

To go is a challenge; to go and proclaim is the command; and to go, proclaim and not to fear is the promise of the companionship of the Lord. The Lord ascends today but we are not abandoned, because the presence of the Lord continues to be. The Lord has gone, but he has gone so that he could be with us, evermore effectively and universally. It is upto you and me, to realise that presence, believe in that presence and draw strength from that presence, to live our daily life worthy of the One who loves to remain with us!

The Name: Jesus, the Christ

WORD 2day: Saturday before Ascension Sunday

May 16, 2026: Acts 18: 23-28; John 16:23-28

Jesus was the name and Christ was a faith experience! Jesus, the Christ is no syntax error! Today we encounter Apollos, another contemporary preacher with Paul. It looks like there were some little misgivings in the Acts of the Apostles between the followers of Paul and followers of Apollos. But Paul makes no notice of such bickerings.

Another great lesson we have is Priscilla and Aquilla instructing Apollos in the right doctrines! The role of the laity in the formation of the apostolic ministers comes out strongly... all of this to make people understand, Jesus was the Christ!

Jesus in the Gospel seems to harp on the same point too: anything you ask the Father in my name, my Father shall give you. He seems to say, because I am the Christ. As Acts so clearly says in another place (4:12) that there is no other name given in all the earth by which one could be saved! It is Jesus, because Jesus is the Christ, Jesus is the one anointed and set apart for our salvation! That should not make us haughty as if we have the monopoly over that name, but it should make us humble in questioning our daily lives and priorities. Are we living worthy of that name? It is not an opportunity to judge the "others" but it is gratitude that should fill our hearts for the privilege given.

Let us ask a question to ourselves each one, Is Jesus my Christ? If you very easily said 'yes', ask that question again looking closely at your values and attitudes of daily life: Is Jesus really my Christ?

Divine Assurances

WORD 2day: Friday, 6th week in Easter time

May 15, 2026: Acts 18: 9-18; John 16: 20-23

The Word today has two of the most repeated and most affirmed promises of the Lord: 

Do not be afraid, for I am with you (Acts 18:9,10); and 

Your sorrow will turn into joy (Jn 16:20). 

For both these, the provision given is: go on speaking and endure the griefs. What an assurance and a what a challenge!

Though what is expected of us - that is, to go on speaking and to endure suffering - might seem a bit too demanding, the consequence of it justifies everything! The promised presence of the Lord and the promised joy in the Lord are incomparably filled with assurances that can brighten up our todays and our tomorrows. Look at the metaphor that Jesus offers - the childbirth. Can there be a better one at that? It is a matter of life and death for the mother; but at the climax of it all, when she holds the baby in her hand, it is a whole new life, a whole new world, a whole new reality not only for her, but for all those who are connected to her, for the entire family.

The strengthening presence of the Lord and the awaiting joy in the Lord: we are called to claim these promises in our daily life and more importantly, we are called to be the fulfillment of these promises for those around us who are needy - the real poor, the suffering and the troubled in spirit. Instead of questioning how the Lord is present amidst sorrows, can I strive to be God's strengthening presence to the weak and the suffering? Instead of being critical about a future joy promised, can I be the source of those simple joys for those around me? 

The Ascension of the Lord which we intend to celebrate this weekend carries precisely this message for us: the continued and unceasing presence of the Risen Lord, more often than not, in the form of our presence with the others. Let the Spirit help us today to feel the presence of the Lord with each of us and within each of us, leading us to be the joyful, strengthening presence of the Lord for everyone we encounter today.

The Twelfth Man

THE WORD AND THE SAINT 

May 14, 2026: Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John 15: 9-17

Feast of any apostle is a reminder to each of us that we are called to be an apostle, sent in the name of the Lord. As my Father sent me, so I send you... said the Lord after his resurrection. Though the event of the election of Mathias is overshadowed by the sorrowful and unfortunate end of Judas, the feast has its usual charm of inviting us to an absolute commitment to the Lord.

There is another dimension that Matthias brings into the Apostleship, in a very specific manner! He was not considered an apostle as long as Jesus moved around with them, in his earthly sojourn. But when Jesus was present amidst them as the Risen Christ he was chosen...as the substitute for the one who lost the way, as the twelfth man! That is both an inspiration and a warning - a warning that we could lose our way any time, be whatever the reason; an inspiration that Jesus is as active as he was when he was around physically - I choose you and I commission you, to go out and bear fruit! 

The place of that twelfth man is open to each and every one of us! Jesus seems to inspire us telling - even his band of apostles were not the perfect one; we could play our part, however little, to perfect it, complement it and complete it, in our own way!

Besides, the Word today adds a wonderful note to the reflection on our call, as it seems to underline the one objective in being an apostle, or for that matter in being a disciple: in Jesus' own words, "as my Father loves me, so I love you!" The primary aim is to receive in all its fullness the abundant love of the Father, through Jesus our friend! And it is in receiving that love, our joy is made complete!

Let us rejoice in being loved, and love each other in return!

In Him...

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 6th week in Easter time

May 13, 2026: Acts 17: 15, 22 - 18:1; John 16: 12-15

In Him we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28), is one of the most expressive faith statements of St. Paul. Paul has a very special insight into understanding Jesus' mind. That is why he was able to declare, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me!" (Gal 2:20). Christ lives in me, when I decide to live IN HIM. That decision I can arrive at only in the Spirit.

Jesus in the Gospel today says, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit will get everything from him and make it known to the believer! "Get from him" would mean 'get from the Father', since Father and the Son are one (cf. Jn 10:30). Jesus invites us to a state where, "On that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you" (Jn 14:20). And the way to it is simple: keeping His commandments; that is the secret of living in Him.

When we live in union with the Lord, a union in heart and soul, keeping the Lord's commandments will not be a demanding task but a natural way of life. It is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of truth who will inspire us to such way of life, a life lived in Him, lived in the Spirit, lived in Christ, lived in the Risen Lord, lived in the very Author of life!

Let us prepare ourselves these days to receive the Spirit, the Spirit of the Risen Lord, the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom, which the Father will send after Christ the Son ascends to the Father's right hand. The crux of Christian perfection is not in anything that we DO, it is rather in living, moving and having our being, IN HIM.

Welcoming the Advocate!

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 6th week in Easter time

May 12, 2026: Acts 16:22-34; John 16: 5-11

Beaten, bruised and bound, they sang the praises of the Lord... will not the glory of the Lord be revealed there? The act of Paul and Silas in the prison was such a powerful witness that the prison guards expected anything anytime. They were capable of it, because of the Spirit that filled them, fueled them and fired them.

It is the Advocate that Jesus promised to his disciples who makes the entire difference and the difference is enormous. We see this in the very first moment when the apostles come out to speak in public. The frightened band of messengers had been turned into fiercely blazing firebrands.

Added to this, Jesus says, when the Spirit comes the Spirit will convict the world. Every heart is given the possibility to know what is true, good and just; every human heart has a longing for someone beyond oneself; every person called by the waters of baptism realises at the core of one's being, the need to be a righteous witness. In spite of these, if the person chooses to fall, decides to choose the evil, sides the evil and despises good, ignores the truth and passively permits the untruth...who is to be blamed? Is not a conviction needed there!

Sin, righteousness and judgement - they decide the quality of one's witnessing life. Receiving the Spirit is not merely receiving some magical power but it is facing the truth, encountering the all-knowing Divine, opening yourself completely before the finger of judgement. 

Are we really prepared to welcome the Advocate who is to come?

On our way to the Reign

WORD 2day: Monday, 6th week in Easter time

May 11, 2026: Acts 16: 11-15; John 15: 26 - 16: 4

Jesus has begun to speak of the Spirit to the apostles, from last week onwards... a sign that there is a different kind of a presence that we have to get prepared for. A different kind of a life style, a new graduated kind of a life and habits and attitudes. The life in the Spirit, is the new existence we need to prepare ourselves for.

"The Spirit of truth" that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is witnessed to be at work in the first reading event from the Acts of the Apostles - that of the lady and her household, who accept the Lord and get baptised! While on the one hand there are people who are waiting to take the apostles to task and persecute them in all known ways, there are at the same time a multitude who are ready to protect, help and fend for them.

This discrepancy comes to the fore in our day to day experience too, when we find the Spirit at work within us. We will feel an urge to spread the Word, but will be faced with obstacles and hurdles: it is the Spirit of the Lord who leads us to discern the right way that a believing community should take at a particular point of time. Priorities differ, principles of decision making change, the criteria of choices are update, because we are in a graduated phase, and well on our way to the Reign.

The persecutions may abound, yet the final result will be a 'revival'...and that is what we hope for. Let our hearts, homes and our households be filled with the Spirit of truth, that we may set in motion real journey, always mindful of the fact that we are well on our way to the Reign of God.

Friends of Christ

WORD 2day: Friday, 5th week in Easter time

May 08, 2026: Acts 15: 22-31; John 15: 12-17

While the readings on the one hand insist on making the burden easy for the new converts to faith, on the other hand we find lofty demands such as even giving one's life for one's neighbours! The point is clear: it is not about merely making life easy, but it is all about having the right priority!

Yes, our faith is not a matter of do's and don'ts; it is a matter of relationship. Our faith redefines our relationship with God: from mere creatures we are given the identity of God's beloved; as friends of Christ! It is not in circumcision or in any other external signs and costumes that we prove ourselves Christians, but in our intimate relationship with the person of Christ; in our friendship with Christ.

Being friends of Christ, it is natural that, the demands are high. After all, did not Jesus insist that "from the one to whom much is given, much will be demanded"? (Lk 12:48) But the demands are not merely to DO something or to AVOID something else, but the demand is about an entire LIFESTYLE. It is to model our life after that of Christ.

The relationship with Christ, or the friendship with Jesus affects all other relationships of our's too. The friends of our friend, should be our friends too! The love we have for the Lord compels us to be loving persons with every person around us: not just our friends, but even with strangers, people whom we just casually bump into, or even with those who might have offended us. In short, every person is our friend, when we are friends with Christ. Even if we do not lay down our life, are we not expected to lay down at least our ego when it comes to our relationships?

A joy that is complete

WORD 2day: Thursday, 5th week in Easter time 

May 07, 2026: Acts 15: 7-21; John 15: 9-11

The ultimate wish of the Lord is our joy, not a joy as that which the world promises, but a joy that is complete, wholesome, flawless and endless. The joy that the world gives is conditional, limited and time bound. It lasts for a while and leaves a vacuum when it disappears due to some reason.

The joy that is promoted by the world is based on feelings, things and doings! It comes from what we do, what we achieve, what we prove to the world. That explains why it is so flimsy and passing. It disappears as soon as that feeling changes, or when that thing is no more, or when we fail to achieve something that we dreamt of achieving!

The joy that the Lord gives comes from what we are; it comes from the fact that we are loved, that we are accepted unconditionally and that we are united to the One who never changes! It is not the various rules and regulations that we uphold that matter, but love!

Love is all that matters! And in that love that God has for us, we find our true joy, the complete joy!

The Rise of the Next Gen...

THE WORD AND THE SAINT... and the happenings today

May 06, 2026: Acts 15: 1-6; John 15: 1-8

We celebrate Dominic Savio today - the teenage saint... 

He is considered the jewel of Don Bosco's Educative System; the piece of cloth that made an excellent garment for the Lord, through Don Bosco the saintly tailor; the 14 year old boy who loved God above all; the youngster who was matured much beyond his age; the spiritually thirsting young lad, who was extremely pliable at the hands of his mentor; the boy who fixed his gaze on sanctity and refused to take it away from there even for a passing moment; the young soul to which God had revealed the true glory of the sacraments of confession and communion; the adolescent who stuck to his original fervour, inspite of all the moments of discouragement and derision. He stands out as the shining proof of what a rising generation can do!

The first reading presents to us a young Christian community (not in age, but in experience). We have the account of the first ever ecumenical council held - the Council of Jerusalem! It stands as a wonderful Christian model of handling crisis and confusion: getting together in brotherly dialogue and faithful communion. A young community setting a model for the entire history to come. 

Coincidentally, in a State in India (Tamilnadu, the State of my origin), these days there is big history being created, politically - with a brand new party coming to power, totally powered by the Next Gen. There is such a lot of criticism about it, but let us face it: it is a strong statement of the rising generation, the so-called Gen Z! What matters is how they mature their dream, how they stay focused, and how they really be the change that they want to bring about. 

The Next Gen is always full of promise... the society needs to stand by them and see them propose dreams; but on their part the rising gen need to take the fostering generation into confidence too... May God bless the Next Gen... and may they become the blessing for the entire humanity.