20th of May 2012

Life is a series of transitions. From the time we are born to the moment of death, we move into a series of changes that are either part of the natural process of life or brought about by the decisions we made for ourselves. In most cases, these transitions entail moving from one comfortable situation to an unfamiliar one. Graduating from high school to college, experiencing one’s first heartbreak, getting married, starting a new family, finding a bigger home, bidding farewell to those whom we love—these are but a few examples of how we go through transitions in life. Fortunately, we have a built-in adaptability that gives us the capacity to accept these transitions as opportunities of growth, to see life in a different perspective, and to find new meaning to an otherwise plain and simple life.

The Church, in which we are living members, also undergoes a series of transitions. This becomes obvious when we observe the changing season of our liturgical calendar—from Advent to the Ordinary Season, from Lent to the Easter Season. Even the solemnities and feasts that we celebrate reflect that dynamic change that leads us to a more fruitful participation in the life of the Church. As we enter into a new season, we are presented with a renewed understanding of our mission and a reinvigorated way of living out our vocation.

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension. As hinted above, this is one of those moments that mark a transition in the life of the Church. In our First Reading, Luke gives us a detailed account of what transpired on that auspicious day. Apparently, Jesus was giving the apostles last minute instructions on what they have to do in the coming days. After promising to send them the Holy Spirit and prophesying that the apostles will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, “He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.” The apostles no longer enjoyed the physical companionship of Jesus; they are now invested with a great mission and they felt inadequate. It was a moment of transition, to move from one comfortable situation and accept the overwhelming challenge that lies ahead.

Fear and anxiety must have enveloped the apostles as they watched the Lord vanish from their sight. For a moment, they must have realized their own powerlessness and incapacity to proclaim the Good News to the world. In today’s Gospel (from Mark), the apostles are portrayed as having difficulties in understanding the teachings of the Lord. Despite their inadequacies, the Lord commissioned them to be signs of his abiding presence when he ascended to the Father. It was a moment of uncertainty, but the final words of the Lord continued to reverberate in their hearts. In their powerlessness, Jesus gave them one final challenge–to desire the power of the Holy Spirit that he promised to send. In effect, the “business” of proclaiming the Good News and leading people to salvation has moved from the hands of the Lord to the hands of those whom he called to be his witnesses.

Today, we celebrate 46th World Communications Day. The Holy Father emphasizes the important relationship between silence and words and how both should contribute towards authentic dialogue. Our Church continues to recognize the dynamic exchange of ideas among individuals, groups, nations, and cultures. The advances in communications technology even made the exchange of ideas easier, though not without any glitches or difficulties. But for meaningful communication to happen, each participating party must be willing to listen inasmuch as they themselves desire to be heard. One does not simply sow the seed of information continuously and expect it to grow and bear fruit. There must be a moment of sufficient silence that is “capable of bringing peace to the restless human heart.”

That must have been the same silence experienced by the apostles when the Lord ascended into heaven. They were left speechless. The God-made-man who used to fill them with the word of God has left them enthralled in silence. In the absence of words, the community established by Jesus himself eventually discovered the “mystery that impels Christians to become heralds of hope and salvation, witnesses of that love which promotes human dignity and builds justice and peace.” They were indeed in a period of transition. But because they diligently listened to the words of the Lord, silently waited for the promised Paraclete, and bravely proclaimed the Good News as they have been empowered to accomplish, we now have a vibrant Church that continues to “proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).

Reference: Fr. Ulysses U. Navarro, SSP

(Source: malaya.com.ph)