June 2, 2019: Ascension of the Lord C
June 2, 2019: Ascension of the Lord C
For those of you who still receive a printed newspaper, you know it’s a chore sometimes to walk out to the driveway early in the morning and retrieve a poorly thrown newspaper from the wet grass. Wouldn’t it be nice if the paper was right there by the front door when you went to get it? For some of the neighbors of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs, every morning they’ll find their newspaper delivered right to their door, thanks to Fr. Frank Uter. Fr. Frank has a daily routine of waking up around 4am, praying his morning prayers, and walking a three-mile route around the church. While walking, he ponders about the plans for the day, prays for the persons to whom he will visit, and places newspapers on the doorsteps of parishioners who live around the church. Recently, at his 50th anniversary mass of his ordination, Fr. Frank reflected about his 50 years as a priest. He said that he never asked for a particular parish assignment; rather, he always said yes wherever the bishop asked him to go. Over the past 50 years, he said he was ministered to and affirmed by the very parishioners to whom he ministered.
Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus’ departure from his disciples and ascension to the right side of the Heavenly Father marked the end of his earthly mission and a new beginning for his disciples. His ascension did not mean that Jesus had abandoned his disciples; rather, Jesus would be present to his disciples in a new way—while invisible to their senses, he is at the right hand of the Father interceding and walking with each of his disciples. He told his disciples to wait patiently until he sent them the Holy Spirit to strengthen their faith and commitment. We - the disciples - are to follow Our Lord wherever he goes; in time we will follow Jesus to his Father’s home. His ascension to His Father side reminds us that we have no lasting home on this side of the earth. We are a stranger and pilgrim while on earth and we will not have rest until we are united with Christ in Heaven.
Fr. Frank shared one time that when he was called upon by bishop to move to one parish, only weeks later due to uncontrollable circumstances, the bishop asked if he would go elsewhere instead of the original assignment. Fr. Frank was free and willing to go wherever and whenever, so he did not have difficulty changing course midway. He said in one interview, “Control is an illusion… You can set up a schedule so you can make use of your time, but you have to be ready and understand that you are not in control of your time.” Indeed, as Fr. Frank said, time belongs to God. We are to be available wherever, whenever, and to whomever God sends us. We are not to cling onto passing things of this earth—health, wealth, comfort. We are to fix our minds on what God has in plan for us, praying that we may not resist God’s assignment for us. We are not alone in carrying out God’s work; Jesus is right here with us in a new way to assist, to encourage, and guide our each step.
Our Lord invites us to lift up our hearts to seek always things that are above and not preoccupied with things of earth. The most important thing we can do on earth is to be a witness and an instrument of Jesus. To believe in the Ascension of the Lord, to believe in the birth, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ is life changing for us; no longer are we free-agents for ourselves. Rather, each of us is the very presence of Jesus through our faith and action. Fr. Frank explained at his anniversary mass that wherever he was assigned, he was the presence of Jesus in the lives of the parishioners just as much as parishioners were Jesus to him. In what way can we be the presence of Jesus for our family and workplace?
For those of you who still receive a printed newspaper, you know it’s a chore sometimes to walk out to the driveway early in the morning and retrieve a poorly thrown newspaper from the wet grass. Wouldn’t it be nice if the paper was right there by the front door when you went to get it? For some of the neighbors of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs, every morning they’ll find their newspaper delivered right to their door, thanks to Fr. Frank Uter. Fr. Frank has a daily routine of waking up around 4am, praying his morning prayers, and walking a three-mile route around the church. While walking, he ponders about the plans for the day, prays for the persons to whom he will visit, and places newspapers on the doorsteps of parishioners who live around the church. Recently, at his 50th anniversary mass of his ordination, Fr. Frank reflected about his 50 years as a priest. He said that he never asked for a particular parish assignment; rather, he always said yes wherever the bishop asked him to go. Over the past 50 years, he said he was ministered to and affirmed by the very parishioners to whom he ministered.
Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus’ departure from his disciples and ascension to the right side of the Heavenly Father marked the end of his earthly mission and a new beginning for his disciples. His ascension did not mean that Jesus had abandoned his disciples; rather, Jesus would be present to his disciples in a new way—while invisible to their senses, he is at the right hand of the Father interceding and walking with each of his disciples. He told his disciples to wait patiently until he sent them the Holy Spirit to strengthen their faith and commitment. We - the disciples - are to follow Our Lord wherever he goes; in time we will follow Jesus to his Father’s home. His ascension to His Father side reminds us that we have no lasting home on this side of the earth. We are a stranger and pilgrim while on earth and we will not have rest until we are united with Christ in Heaven.
Fr. Frank shared one time that when he was called upon by bishop to move to one parish, only weeks later due to uncontrollable circumstances, the bishop asked if he would go elsewhere instead of the original assignment. Fr. Frank was free and willing to go wherever and whenever, so he did not have difficulty changing course midway. He said in one interview, “Control is an illusion… You can set up a schedule so you can make use of your time, but you have to be ready and understand that you are not in control of your time.” Indeed, as Fr. Frank said, time belongs to God. We are to be available wherever, whenever, and to whomever God sends us. We are not to cling onto passing things of this earth—health, wealth, comfort. We are to fix our minds on what God has in plan for us, praying that we may not resist God’s assignment for us. We are not alone in carrying out God’s work; Jesus is right here with us in a new way to assist, to encourage, and guide our each step.
Our Lord invites us to lift up our hearts to seek always things that are above and not preoccupied with things of earth. The most important thing we can do on earth is to be a witness and an instrument of Jesus. To believe in the Ascension of the Lord, to believe in the birth, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ is life changing for us; no longer are we free-agents for ourselves. Rather, each of us is the very presence of Jesus through our faith and action. Fr. Frank explained at his anniversary mass that wherever he was assigned, he was the presence of Jesus in the lives of the parishioners just as much as parishioners were Jesus to him. In what way can we be the presence of Jesus for our family and workplace?
