Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20

Fr. Billy O’Riordan

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - his glorification and his seating at the right hand of the Father. With the Ascension of the Lord comes the sending of the Holy Spirit, and therefore Jesus Christ is made present to the world through the Church and the sacraments.

Today’s Gospel Scripture points clearly to the commission given to the first disciples: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you …” Brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we might well refer to these words of Jesus as the great commission, and therefore the charge of the Church and therefore that of all the baptized … There is a hymn called The Summons and the words speak clearly of being called by name to go where you don’t know, to care for cruel and kind, to risk the hostile stare, and to live and grow and never be the same - that’s discipleship in Jesus Christ despite our doubts and fears!
Let’s go over the commission of the baptized ... Firstly, we ask the Church, Mother Church for baptism, but then parents and godparents are given instructions about accepting the responsibility of training children in the practice of the faith and keeping God’s commandments by loving God and neighbor. Then we are signed with the sign of the cross, anointed with the oil of catechumens in the name of Christ for strength to resist the power of Satan. Then we are baptized by the pouring of water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and freed from original sin. After baptism we are anointed with the chrism of salvation as Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king. In Christ, we are royalty, and thus we are clothed in a white garment as a reminder of our Christian dignity and grandeur. Then we are entrusted with the light of Christ to be kept burning brightly and walk always as children of the light, keeping the flame of faith alive in our hearts so that we can go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom … Do you want to be in that number when the saints go marching in? The baptized are commissioned to proclaim the faith to the praise and glory of God. You are the Church of St. Ann, mother of the Mother of God. You are called to pray and instruct, coach and teach, command, and direct others in the ways of Almighty God. Now is not the time to stand around looking up to the sky …

Let me share a few stories here to illustrate this great commission given to us, the baptized … During World War II a little village in Bavaria was virtually wiped out by allied air raids. Among the casualties was the local parish church. The figure of Christ in a wayside Calvary beside the church was left without arms and legs. After the war people set about restoring the church but the parish priest insisted that there be no alteration made to the wayside shrine. Instead the parish priest erected a sign at the foot of the cross which read: “Now I have no arms and no feet. From now on you will be my arms and feet to bring help and healing to a broken world.” [James A Feehan “Stories for Preachers” Mercier Press, Cork, and Dublin, Ireland 1988, page 34]

We all know too well that the Church needs us now more than ever. We are commissioned to make a difference and so I share another story about a young and successful executive who was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit fast in his brand new Jaguar. However, he was watching for kids to dart out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared, but instead a brick smashed the door of his new car. He slammed on the brakes and reversed back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid, and pushed him up against a parked car shouting: "What the heck was that all that about? Look at my new car. Why did you do this?"

"Please Mister, please" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop." Tears rolled down the boy's face as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the young executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's far too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful youngster said. The man watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his new Jaguar ... a long slow walk! He never did repair the door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone had to throw a brick at him to get his attention and make him aware of the great commission of the baptized.

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes, when we don't have time to listen God has to throw a brick at us. Listen to the whisper - or watch for the brick to help us remember the great commission.