Fr. Campbell, “Looking up to Heaven” (Acts 1:11)
Today
the Paschal Candle disappears from the sanctuary until the Easter Vigil
in 2019. On the Feast of the Ascension the Paschal Candle is
extinguished after the Gospel, to remind us that Jesus has ascended to
the Father, and will no longer be seen on this earth, until He comes
again to judge the living and the dead. But He has not left us alone and
desolate. He has sent us another Advocate, the Holy Ghost, Whom we call
the Paraclete, the Consoler.
In
spite of being companions and disciples of Jesus for three years, the
disciples were not yet prepared to go out and preach the Gospel to the
whole world. They did not yet have the courage of their convictions. But
after they prayed the Church’s first novena of nine days, together with
the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning on this day of Our Lord’s Ascension,
they received Power from on high, the Holy Ghost, with His abundant
gifts. With the challenges to our Faith we see these days, we have never
been more in need of this Power from on high for whom the disciples
waited in the Upper Room.
If
we want to stand up for what we believe and hold dear in the face of
the most difficult dangers and challenges, we must unite in spirit with
the Church today as she begins her Novena to the Holy Ghost, which leads
up to the feast of Pentecost.
The
Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, God the Holy Ghost, does not draw
attention to Himself, but to the Second Person, the Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ, who promised His Church:
“The
Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he
will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said
to you… [W]hen… the Spirit of truth has come, he will teach you all the
truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he will
hear he will speak, and the things that are to come he will declare to
you. He will glorify me, because he will receive of what is mine, and
will declare it to you” ((Jn.14:26; 16:13-15).
But
the Son, in turn, attributes nothing to Himself: “Amen, amen, I say to
you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but only what he sees the Father
doing. For whatever he does, this the Son also does in like manner. For
the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself does”
(Jn.5:19,20).
From
the Father and the Son, loving one another, a Third Person appears, the
Spirit of Love, the Holy Ghost. This is the mystery of the Blessed
Trinity, three Persons in One God, loving one another in perfect
self-giving. If we truly love God, we are also made sharers in this
love, and become channels of God’s love towards our neighbors. This is
why St. Peter, the first Vicar of Christ, says in the Epistle today:
“Beloved:
Be prudent and watchful in prayers. But above all things have a
constant mutual charity among yourselves; for charity covers a multitude
of sins. Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. According to
the gift that each has received, administer it to one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as
with words of God. If anyone ministers, let it be as from the strength
that God furnishes; that in all things God may be honored through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (1Pet.4:7-11).
St. James adds his words of advice:
“Be
patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the
farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient until
it receives the early and the late rain. Do you also be patient;
strengthen your hearts; for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not
complain against one another, brethren that you may not be judged.
Behold, the judge is standing at the door. Take, brethren, as an example
of labor and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Behold, we call them blessed who have endured” (Jas.5:7-10).
St. James again:
