Today we hear from the gospel of John which was written much later than the other Synoptic gospels. Again, writing in retrospect can provide a very different view, still the truth, but with a fuller understanding of the event, especially through the impact on the lives of people. The disciples, in John’s account, appear much clearer and more confident in their understanding of who Jesus is and of his mission. "Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God." Yet, Jesus’ reply revealed the deeper truth and reality of the apostles’ abandoning him as he was arrested and crucified. Jesus’ words were not condemning, “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.” Living our lives in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit calls and challenges us to see and be in the world with the eyes and heart of God. We live in the world, not simply for ourselves, rather we are to be the presence, the goodness and the love of God, especially in these times of darkness, oppression, hatred and violence. Holy Spirit, guide us in wisdom, hope and joy! (fb)

Happy feast of the Ascension of Jesus! In the Acts of the Apostles (80-90 A.D.), Luke wrote that Jesus was lifted up into the heavens until the apostles could no longer see him. Imagine what the apostles must have felt as they witnessed this. They had just asked Jesus, “are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Their question revealed that they still held hope and a belief in Jesus’ earthly mission. They did not fully understand. Interestingly, we hear Luke’s account in the gospel which he wrote later, after the Acts. In the gospel, as in Acts, Jesus was gathered with the apostles and both accounts speak of the promised Holy Spirit to guide them. However, in the gospel, after Jesus was taken up to heaven, Luke wrote that the apostles returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God. Perhaps, we can say that the passage of time offers a very different perspective, it is probably also very true that the later gospel takes into account the power and gift that the Holy Spirit brought to the experience of the apostles and the growing faith community, the early Christians. May we entrust our lives and hope in the belief that the Holy Spirit has been given to us in the same way to preach and witness to God’s love, mercy and justice for our world today. (fb)