Suminakat sa Kalangitan, Nagtutukaw sa Too kan Ama

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradit na Komunidad nin Pagtubod (SAKOP) Para sa semana kan Junio 1-7, 2025. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Lucas 24,46-53 (Domingo de Ascensión - C).

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An Evangelio iyó an istorya kan Ascensión o pagsakát sa langit kan satóng Kagurangnan Jesu Cristo, susog ki San Lucas. Inistorya giraray iní ni San Lucas, asín may mga dagdag pang detalye nganì, sa saiyang ikaduwáng libro, an Gibo kan mga Apostoles (1,1-11).

An Ascensión iyó an pag-ulî ni Jesús sa Saiyang haróng sa langit.

Nin huli ta Siyá Diós, an Akì nin Diós, an Ikaduwáng Persona kan Santissima Trinidad. Si Santa María, sa saiyang Asunción, isinakát sa langit sa gracia nin Diós, bakô sa sadiri niyang kakayahan, ta tawo man saná siyá. Alagad an Ascención kan satóng Kagurangnan huli sa Saiyang sadiring kapangyarihan.

An Ascensión iyó an kapanoan kan pagpamuraway ki Jesús kan Saiyang Amâ.

Kayâ pinapahayag ta sa Nagtutubod (Credo Apostolico), na Siyá “suminakát sa kalangitan, nagtutukaw sa tóo kan Diós Amáng makakamhan.” Sabi pa ni San Pablo sa Efeso 1,22-23: “An gabós ibinugták Niya sa irarom kan mga bitís ni Cristo, asín, labáw sa gabós, ginibo Siyáng pamayó kan Simbahan, na iyó an Saiyang hawak, an kalubosan kan nagpapanô kan gabós sa gabós.”

An Ascensión iyó man an panugâ kan satóng maabot na kamurawayan.

Sa Juán 14,2 nanugâ si Jesús sa Saiyang mga disipulos: “Sa haróng kan Sakóng Amâ dakúl an eerokan… Malakaw Ako ta maandam nin lugár para saindo.”

Alagad an mensahe kan Ascensión bakô saná dapít sa kamurawayan nin langit, kundî dapít man sa satóng pagigin mga disipulos Niya digdi sa dagâ. Nin huli ta sa pagsakát ni Cristo sa langit, winalat Niya satô an Saiyang Espiritu asín an Saiyang misyon. Nanugâ pa Siyá sa Gibo 1,8: “Aakoon nindo an kapangyarihan pagsangkob saindo kan Espiritu Santo, asín magigi Ko kamóng mga saksi sa Jerusalem, sa bilog na Judea, sa Samaria, sagkod sa kaporohán kan dagâ.”

Evangelización an apód kainíng misyon nin pagsaksi ki Cristo, an pagbalangibog kan Marhay na Baretà. Pâno ta iní gigibohon?

Magdangóg.

Sa Evangelio, hanggang sa bâgo Siyá magsakát sa langit, dagos pang nagtutukdò si Jesús sa mga disipulos. Hanggang sa ngonian padagos pa kitang ginigiyahan kan Saiyang Espiritu, sa paagi kan pagpastor kan mga namamayo sa Simbahan, sa Banál na Kasuratán, sa pagpangadyî, sa pagdangóg sa mga istorya asín agrangay nin kapwa. Bâgo kitá maka-evangelizár, dapat makaukod ngûna an satóng pusò sa pagdangog kan Tataramon nin Diós asín pasabóng kan Espiritu.

Magtubód.

Kan nahiling kan mga disipulos na si Jesús suminakát sa langit, tulos sindang nagtubód asín nagsambá Saiya, asín naghalát sa pagdatóng kan Espiritu Santo. An pagtubód na hinahagad satô iyó an pagtubód nin maimbod na pagsunód sa kabôtan nin Diós asín pagsarig sa Saiyang mga panugâ, lalò na kun may mga kagabatan asín pagbalò sa satóng buhay asín misyon.

Maghirás.

An pinakasimpleng kahulugán kan evangelización iyó an paghirás kan Marhay na Baretà na yaon na satô. An satóng hawak mismo Templo na kan Espiritu Santo sa gracia kan bonyag, asín may mga bunga na nganì Siyáng tinátaó sa satóng búhay. An satóng mga gibong karahayan, an pagsabi nin totoo na may pagkamoot, an paghirás kan istorya kun pâno an Diós naghihirò sa satóng búhay – gabós iní mga paagi nin pagsaksi ki Cristo asín pagdará sa kapwa pasiring Saiya.

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GIYA SA PAGHIRÁS SA SADÍT NA KOMUNIDAD O PAMILYA | Maghirás nin experiencia nin pagsaksi mo ki Cristo asín paghirás kan Marhay na Baretà sa kapwa.

PASUNÓD-SUNÓD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING | Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Scripture Response • Prayers of the People • Closing Prayer • (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

Si Cristo Suminakat sa Kalangitan

 

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradit na Komunidad nin Pagtubod (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Mayo 21-27, 2023. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Mateo 28,16-20 (Domingo kan Pagsakát sa Langit kan Kagurangnan).

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An pagbasa iyó an mga huríng versiculos kan Evangelio ni San Mateo. Yaon digdi an mga huríng panugón-tugon ni Jesús sa Saiyang mga disipulos alagad daíng sinabi dapit sa Saiyang pagsakát sa langit.  An istorya kan Ascensión yaon sa Evangelio ni San Marcos asín San Lucas, dangan sa libro kan mga Gibo kan mga Apostoles (1,1-11). Anó an kahalagahán kan Ascensión ni Cristo?

An Ascensión Katotoohan kan satong Pagtubód. Sa Credo satong pinapahayag na si Cristo “suminakát sa kalangitan asín nagtutukaw sa tóo kan Diós Amáng makakamhan”. An Ascensión iyó an pagpamuraway asin pag-entronar Saiya bilang hadè kan gabós, kayâ nganì sinabi Niya: “Itinaó Sako an gabós na autoridád sa langit asín dagâ”. Sabi pa ni San Pablo sa Efeso 1,22-23: “An gabós ibinugtak kan Diós sa irarom kan Saiyang mga bitís, asín labáw sa gabós, giníbo Siyang pamayó kan Simbahan, na Saiyang hawak, an kalubosan kan nagpapanò kan gabós sa gabós.”

An Ascensión Pagsugò sato sa Misyon. An pagbalík ni Cristo sa langit iyó an tandà kan katapusan kan Saiyang panahón sa dagâ. Alagad bakô iní katapusan kan Saiyang misyon nin huli ta sinusugò Niya an Saiyang mga disipulos kaidto asín kita ngonian na ipadagos iní. Sabi Niya sa Juan 20,21: “Siring na Ako sinugò kan Amâ, kamo man sinusugò Ko.”

An Evangelio ni San Mateo nagpapahayag kan inaapód na Dakulang Pagsugò ni Jesús. An sabi Niya sa Mateo 28,19-20: “Lakáw kamo, gibohang disipulos an gabós na nación! Bonyagán sa ngaran kan Amâ, kan Akì, asín kan Espiritu Santo, tukdoán na mag-utób kan gabós na itinugon saindo.” Kayâ inaakò ta sa bonyag bakô saná an kapatawadán nin satong mga kasâlan, asín an dignidad nin pagigin mga akì kan Amâ, tugang ni Jesu Cristo, templo kan Espiritu Santo, miembros kan Simbahan, asín tagapagmana kan Kahadean – kundî an pag-akò man kan misyon ni Cristo bilang padì, profeta, asín hadè, sa bilog niatong buhay. An misyon na iní hinihiras ni Cristo bakô saná sa mga padì, o madre, o mga katekista, kundî para sa gabós na Cristianong binonyagán.

An Ascensión Panugâ nin Gracia.  Sa pagpadagos ta kan misyon ni Cristo, nanugâ Siya sa Mateo 20,28: “Kaiba nindo Ako gabós na aldaw, sagkod sa katapusan nin kinâban”. An kahulugán kainí iyó an pagpadará Niya kan Espiritu Santo, an satong Kasuróg asín Espiritu nin katotoohan, na danay na yaon sa Simbahan asín sa lambang Cristianong binonyagán.

Dangan an Ascensión panugâ man nin buhay na daíng kasagkoran para sato sa kalangitan. Huli ta kan si Cristo nag-ulî sa haróng kan Saiyang Amâ bilang Diós na nanitawo, an satong pagkatawo kaiba Niyang isinakát sa langit. Kaya binuksan man sato an paglaom na makakapasiring sa langit. Sa Juan 14,2, si Jesús nanugâ: “Sa haróng kan Sakong Amâ dakúl an dagosan… Málakaw Ako ta maandam nin lugar para saindo”.

Sa Liturgia sa Domingo kan Ascensión, an Prefacio I nagtátaó nin magayón na sumada kaining misterio na satong sinecelebrár: “Huli ta an  Kagurangnan na si Jesús, Hadê kan kamurawayan, kagdaóg kan kasâlan asín kagadanan; sa atubang kan mga nagngángalas na angeles, suminakát ngonian sa kaitaasan nin kalangitan – Pag-ultanan kan Diós asín mga tawo, Hukóm kan kinâban asín Kagurangnan kan mga kabagsikan – bakô tanganing talikdán an hamak ming kamugtakan kundî tanganing magsarig kaming mga kabtang Niya na másunód dumán, kun saen Siya nag-enot, samong pamayó asín giníkanan.”

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GIYA SA PAGHIRÁS SA SADÍT NA KOMUNIDAD O PAMILYA • Maghirás kun pàno mo pinapadagos asín sinasabuhay an misyon na tinaó sato gabós ni Cristo na ibalangibog an Saiyang Marhay na Baretà.

PASUNÓD-SUNÓD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING • Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Prayers of the Faithful • Closing Prayer (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song.

 

Suminakát sa Kalangitan, Nagtutukaw sa Too kan Ama

 

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradit na Komunidad nin Pagtubod (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Mayo 29 - Hunyo 4, 2022. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Lucas 24,46-53 (Domingo de Ascensión - C).

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An evangelio iyo an istorya kan Ascensión o pagsakát ni Jesu Cristo sa langit, susog ki San Lucas. Igwang sarò pang version kaining istorya si San Lucas, asin may mga dagdag na detalye pa nganì, sa saiyang ikaduwáng libro, an Gibo kan mga Apostoles (1,1-11).

An Ascensión iyo an pag-ulî ni Cristo sa Saiyang haróng sa langit, nin huli ta Siya Dios, an Aki nin Dios, an Ikaduwang Persona kan Santissima Trinidad. Si Santa Maria, sa saiyang Asunción, isinakát sa langit sa gracia nin Dios, bakò sa sadiri niyang kakayahan, ta tawo man saná siya. Alagad an Asunción kan satong Kagurangnan huli sa Saiyang sadiring kapangyarihan.

An Ascensión iyo an kapanoan kan pagpamuraway kan Ama ki Jesu Cristo. Kaya sinasambit niato sa Nagtutubod, na Siya “suminakát sa kalangitan, nagtutukaw sa too kan Dios Amang makakamhan”. Sabi pa ni San Pablo sa Efeso 1,22-23: “An gabós na bagay Saiyang ibinugták sa irarom kan mga bitís ni Cristo, na ginibong hadè kan gabós, pamayó kan Simbahan na iyó an Saiyang hawak.”

An Ascensión iyo man an panugâ kan satong maabot na kamurawayan. Sa Juan 14,2 nanugâ si Cristo sa Saiyang mga disipulos: “Sa haróng kan Sakong Ama dakúl an mga estaran; maduman Ako sa pag-andam nin lugár para saindo”.

Alagad an mensahe kan Ascensión bakò saná manunungod sa kamurawayan nin kalangitan, kundì manunungod man sa satong pagigin mga disipulos Niya digdi sa dagâ. Nin huli ta sa pagsakát ni Cristo sa langit, winalat Niya sa sato an Saiyang Espiritu asin an Saiyang misyon. Nanugâ pa si Cristo sa Gibo 1,8: “Aakoon nindo an saróng kusóg, an Espiritu Santo mahilig saindo tanganing kamo magin Sakong mga saksi sa Jerusalem, sa bilog na Judea, sa Samaria, sagkod sa mga puró kan kinàban.”

Evangelización an apód kaining misyon nin pagsaksi ki Cristo, an pagbalangibog kan Marhay na Baretà. Pàno ta ini gigibohon?

Magdangóg. Sa evangelio, hanggang sa bàgo Siya magsakát sa langit, dagos pang nagtutukdò si Jesus sa mga disipulos. Hanggang sa ngonian padagos pa kitang ginigiyahan kan Saiyang Espiritu, sa pagpastor kan mga namamayó sa Simbahan, sa Banál na Kasuratán, sa pagpangadiè, sa pagdangóg niato kan mga istorya asin agrangay kan kapwa. Bàgo kita makapag-evangelizár, dapat makaukod ngùna an satong pusò sa pagdangog kan Tataramon nin Dios asin pasabóng kan Espiritu.

Magtubód. Kan nahiling kan mga disipulos na si Jesus suminakát sa langit, tulos sindang nagtubód asin nagsambá Saiya, asin naghalat sa pagdatóng kan Espiritu Santo. An pagtubód na hinahagad sato iyo an pagtubód nin maimbod na pagsunod sa kabòtan nin Dios asin pagsarig sa Saiyang mga panugâ, lalò na kun may mga kagabatan asin pagbalò sa buhay asin misyon.

Maghirás. An pinakasimpleng kahulugan kan evangelización iyo an paghirás kan Marhay na Baretà na yaon na sato. An satong hawak mismo Templo na kan Espiritu Santo sa gracia kan bonyag, asin may mga bunga na nganì Siyang tinatao sa satong buhay. An satong mga gibong karahayan, an pagsabi nin totoo na may pagkamoot, an paghirás kan istorya nin Dios na naghihirò sa satong buhay – gabos ini mga paagi nin pagsaksi ki Cristo asin pagdará sa kapwa pasiring Saiya.

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GIYA SA PAGHIRÁS SA SADIT NA KOMUNIDAD O PAMILYA • Maghirás nin experiencia nin pagsaksi niato ki Cristo asin paghirás kan Marhay na Baretà sa kapwa.

PASUNOD-SUNOD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING • Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Scripture Response • Closing Prayer (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

Paduman sa Bilog na Kinaban

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradit na Komunidad nin Pagtubod (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Mayo 16-22, 2021. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Marcos 16,15-20 (Solemnidad kan Pagsakat sa Langit)

 

Sa evangelio pig-istorya an pagsakat ni Jesu Cristo sa langit. Ini an sinasambit niato sa Nagtutubod, na Siya “suminakat sa kalangitan, nagtutukaw sa too kan Dios Amang makakamhan”. Sa Santo Rosario, ini an ikaduwang Misteryong Mamurawayon. Ano an boot sabihon kan misteryong ini?

Enot, an Ascencion, tanda kan panugang kalangitan. Siring na si Cristo suminakat sa langit, an mga maimbod na nagtutubod Saiya makakalaog man sa langit. Sa Prefacio sa Ascencion sa Misal Romano o libro sa Pagmisa, sinasabi na suminakat Siya sa langit “bako tanganing talikdan an hamak ming kamugtakan kundi tanganing magsarig kaming mga kabtang Niya na masunod duman, kun saen Siya nag-enot, samong pamayo asin ginikanan”.

Ikaduwa, bako ini pagbaya sato kundi pagwaras kan Saiyang Espiritu. Sa Mateo 28,20, nanuga si Jesus: “Danay akong kaiba nindo sagkod sa katapusan kan panahon”. Siring man sa Juan 14,16-17, sinabi Niya: “Mamimibi ako sa Ama na itao Niya saindo an saro pang Parasurog na magigin kaiba nindo sagkod pa man. Siya an Espiritu nin katotoohan.”

Ikatolo, ini paghiras kan misyon. Bago nanggad Siya suminakat sa langit, hiniras ni Jesus an Saiyang misyon (sa Ingles, commission) sa Saiyang mga disipulos. Sa Marcos 16,15, “Sinabihan Niya sinda, ‘Paduman kamo sa bilog na kinaban; ihulit nindo an Marhay na Bareta sa gabos na tawo.” May tolong elemento digdi na marhay paghorop-horopan: misyon, mensahe, asin mensahero.

Misyon. Nasa plano nin Dios na kita an magpadagos kan misyon ni Cristo. Sa Juan 20,21, sinabi Niya: “Siring na ako sinugo kan Ama kamo man sinusugo ko”. Dai minatapos an satong pagigin Cristiano sa pagsamba asin pagsimba, kundi sa pagdara kan satong nakua sa pamibi asin Misa sa satong kapwa sa mga lugar kun saen yaon kita asin kun saen pinapadara kita kan Espiritu. Ini man an tema kan celebracion kan ika-500 na aniversario nin Cristianismo sa Pilipinas na “Biniyayaan tanganing Magtao” (Gifted to Give).

Mensahe. Ini an Marhay na Bareta. Alagad bako sana an istorya ni Jesu Cristo susog sa apat na Evangelio kundi an mabalaog na encuentro asin hararom na pakipag-ibahan niato Saiya na bunga kan pamibi asin pag-adal kan Biblia. An Marhay na Bareta iyo na an Dios namoot sato asin linigtas kita sa kagadanan nin kasàlan – ini an mensaheng pinapahayag niato.

Mensahero. Ini kita asin an lambang Cristiano. Sabi ni Cristo sa Gibo 1,8: “An Espiritu Santo mahilig saindo tanganing kamo magin sakong mga saksi”. Bilang mga saksi ni Cristo, bako sana kitang mga tagapagbareta kundi sa satong sadiring tataramon, gibo, asin buhay mismo namimidbidan si Cristo asin an Saiyang Marhay na Bareta – pag sinasabuhay ta an pagtubod, pag naninindugan kita sa katotoohan asin justicia, pag naglalakaw kita sa dalan nin katanosan, asin pag pinapamate ta an pagkamoot sa kapwa, orog na sa mga nangangaipo asin sinisikwal nin sociedad.

GIYA SA PAGHIRAS SA SADIT NA KOMUNIDAD O FAMILIA • Maghiras nin experiencia kun sa anong paagi niato nagigibo an misyon na ibalangibog an Marhay na Bareta.

PASUNOD-SUNOD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING • Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Scripture Response • Closing Prayer (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

 

They Worshipped, but They Doubted

How does one preach about the great mystery of Christ’s Ascension in light of recent events that rocked our nation’s faith: the Maute group’s brazen attack on Marawi City and the subsequent declaration of Martial Law in the whole island of Mindanao? Does our celebration connect with our people’s fear of terrorism and wariness of possible abuse under Martial Law?

I would like to start with this short phrase in Matthew’s recounting of the Ascension event: “When the disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped, but they doubted.”

The worship part is easy to understand: they have seen Jesus as He promised, most likely in the form of His glorified body. But before such singular manifestation of divinity, why would some people still find space in their hearts to doubt? Over the course of centuries, scholars have tried to explain Matthew’s doubting disciples – maybe they referred to the other disciples aside from the Eleven; maybe it is because there really was no resurrection or ascension but some vision concocted by certain disciples which only the “privileged” among them could see. Or maybe because it is part of our human nature to doubt – what is obviously real and worthy of worship to some may appear to be confusing to others, their minds still processing the unexpected phenomenon before them.

The more important part though was Jesus’ response. The few who doubted received neither rebuke nor condescending tone. Instead He approached all of them and gave them His last will, a closing statement so clear and succinct it could very well sum up the entirety of the Good News. The message may be broken down into three parts.

1. The Power of Christ. He said: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28,18). Ephesians 1,22 affirmed this: “God put all things beneath His feet”. At the Ascension event Christ proclaimed His lordship over all creation. If He is our Lord and King, then all our exercise of earthly power and responsibility emanates from Him.

In Mathew 20,25-28, He taught us what it means to wield power. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The powerful in the world today, as in Jesus’ time, still like to consolidate more power for themselves. The unscrupulous ones do so by violence and deceit. The more dangerous ones couch their ambitions in some lofty vision, capitalizing on people’s fears and frustrations to get what they want. This is the way of terrorists and dictators. They don’t conform to the power of Christ for they don’t want to serve but to be served, they don't care as much for collateral damage so long as they can further their cause.

2. Proclaiming Christ. From His power comes a mandate. He sent His disciples on a mission to spread the Good News, make other disciples, baptizing and teaching them so they observe all that He has commanded. The Good News is not some mere report of events no matter how significant for our salvation, nor is it about doctrines or wise teachings. The Good News is the person of Christ Himself; when it is preached the end goal is not just belief but relationship with Christ Himself.

When it comes to preaching I find myself drawn to the words often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “At all times preach the Gospel, sometimes with words.” There is an even shorter term for this: witnessing. The most eloquent preaching anyone can do is the witness of a person’s actions and way of life.

During the crisis in Marawi, we may have seen frightening footages of fighting and bloodshed, but there is also a wellspring of stories of witnessing. A group of non-Muslim students were trapped for two days in a dormitory inside the campus of Mindanao State University. As terrorists roamed the campus, their Muslim classmates gave them moral support and protection, and even facilitated their rescue. Even now there are many civil society organizations which are mobilizing relief efforts for evacuees who fled to Iligan City and those still trapped in Marawi.

3. The Peace of Christ. He promised: “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28,20). Our liturgy today describes the Ascension this way: “He ascended not to distance Himself from our lowly state but that we, His members, might be confident of following where He, our Head and Founder, has gone before” (Preface I of the Ascension). And even before we reach our final destination, He promised to send us His Spirit, to be another Advocate to guide us to all truth (Jn 14,26).

Where Christ’s Spirit is, there is peace. Philippians 4,7 says: “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Christ’s Spirit and promise enables us to pray and hope. What is it that we pray for in this time of crisis?

Foremost, we pray for the safe and immediate release of Fr. Chito Suganob and other hostages still being held by the terrorists. May they find strength and hope in the peace of Christ at their time of need. We pray that no harm fall upon our police and military forces keeping peace and order. We pray for the conversion of hearts of those who instigated the crisis and continue to live a life of violence. We pray for the end of the crisis and quick recovery of Marawi City. We pray that Martial Law be limited and short.

The Spirit of Christ leads us to truth and brings peace. When we welcome His Spirit, we are enabled to pray for ourselves as well as our enemies, and inspired to dream dreams not just for ourselves and pursue visions of a better country.

HOMILY for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 ; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:29a, 20b

Ascension and Communication

HOMILY
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53

Both the First and Gospel Readings narrate the Ascension event. Jesus ascended to heaven not to become “once more” a distant God. For that is how the people in His time thought of God, a concept shared by some world religions, and, at times, even by individual Christians then and now. God is almighty and all-loving but He is far from us. He lives in unreachable light.

The history of salvation tells a different story. It is in fact the story of how the Father gradually dispels the notion of a distant God. He not only intervenes in history but sent His Son to be one of us. Jesus is the Word made flesh who dwells among us; God with us. St. Paul in Col 1,15 exclaims: “He is the image of the invisible God!”.

And Jesus is not about to change that. Rather, by His ascension, He reveals further that He is not just the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews, He is the savior of all humanity. He makes known the universal nature of His mission.

Eph 1,22-23 (from the Second Reading) says: “(The Father) put all things beneath His feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.”

In order to make known to all His universal lordship and spread His saving message to all the nations, He sends His disciples as witnesses.

Acts 1,8 (from the First Reading) says: “You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Lk 24,48 (from the Gospel Reading) says: “You are witnesses of these things.”

What doe is it mean to be a witness? For a Christian a witness is
1. one who has a profound experience of God; and
2. one who provides testimony about the Faith.

1. A profound experience of God. The first disciples are witnesses of how Christ lived. They experience the privilege of having Jesus share meals, wisdom, and presence with them. Yet even those who are not able to “see as they see, and hear as they hear” are not at all bereft of experiences of God. For God reveals Himself to us in so many ways.

A profound experience of God is an overwhelming realization of God’s love for us. Or it may be a quiet sense of peace in the midst of a crisis or period of sorrow. Or an inspired insight on how everything works for the good to those who trust in His faithfulness.

It is important that we experience firsthand God’s love. Otherwise, how would we testify to it? The seeming lack of evangelistic fervor among many Christians, especially Catholics, may be indicative of a lack of an experience of God’s love as well.

2. Providing testimony about one’s faith. The ascension event is always associated with the “great commission”. God’s love is not something meant to be kept by individual Christians or guarded like some esoteric secret by Christian communities, it is meant to be shared to everyone.

a. Media

It is thus no coincidence that the World Communications Day is celebrated on Ascension Sunday. The Good News is spread through the various media of communication. Through centuries the Church has employed every means available to spread the faith: missionary preaching, writing the gospels and epistles, copying manuscripts, the printing press, radio, TV, the internet etc.

In his message for the 44th World Communications Day, Pope Benedict recognizes the need of the Church, the clergy in particular, to do pastoral ministry in the digital media.

To illustrate the power of digital media: do you know how long it took for radio to reach 50 million users? 38 years. It took TV 13 years to reach that audience. The internet, a mere 4 years. And the Ipod, 3 years.

That is why our diocese maintains a radio station (Veritas Legazpi), a printing press (Ave Maria Press), and a publication (An Bangraw). Our neighboring Diocese of Sorsogon has a TV station. We are also currently putting up again our website. We even have a page on Facebook. And there are still so much more that can be done using the digital media for evangelization.

b. Message

However, more important than the media is the message. It is called the Good News not so much because it reports of a happy event, but because it is about a saving event, a life-changing event, an epochal event.

Lk 24,47 (from the Gospel Reading) describes the Good News as a call to “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, (to) be preached in His name to all the nations”.

During his visit to Fatima in Portugal this May 13, Pope Benedict delivered a message in his audience with the Portuguese bishops. I would like to share a brief quote from his message:

“In truth, the times in which we live demand a new missionary vigor on the part of Christians, who are called to form a mature laity, identified with the Church and sensitive to the complex transformations taking place in our world. Authentic witnesses to Jesus Christ are needed, above all in those human situations where the silence of the faith is most widely and deeply felt: among politicians, intellectuals, communications professionals who profess and who promote a monocultural ideal, with disdain for the religious and contemplative dimension of life.”

It is a great challenge to preach to a world that does not want to be reminded of its sins, that selectively chooses the conveniences of freedom while attempting to shut out its inescapable consequences. Yet there is no other way for the Gospel to be preached but to talk about repentance and conversion, for without them there is no forgiveness of sins. And it is only through the remission of sins that Grace may enter and take hold of our lives.

c. and the Messenger

We are messengers of the Good News to the world, tasked to witness to the love of God working in our lives. How are we in terms of becoming, what Pope Benedict XVI calls, “authentic witnesses to Jesus Christ”? How is our witnessing during the recent elections?

For most of us here who voted, some of our candidates won, others didn’t. What about God: Did God win in the elections? Or have we also lost our witnessing at the sight of a few hundred peso bribe from candidates?

As Filipinos we dream of building a better country. However, as Christians, we dream bigger, we dream of building the Kingdom of God. The campaign period is over for the candidates. Our campaign to win people for Christ continues. This is the mission of Ascension Sunday.