Note:  The homily this week went through a few failed attempts before it appeared in this present form on Saturday.  That's the way it goes sometimes; the Spirit inspires when it does. 

Two Sunday's ago we heard Jesus tell the disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  I am going to prepare a place in my Father's house for you.  If I go, I will come back and take you to myself so that where I am, you also may be."  One week ago we heard Jesus tell the disciples, "I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you."  Today, Jesus takes leave of his disciple to return to the Father.  Granted, the Gospels package the events and the explanations in what appears to be a more understandable sequence.  Also, we live in the times of the Holy Spirit. The disciples that saw Jesus ascend into heaven did not have that most rich and wonderful of blessings granted to them yet.  However, they had Jesus and he had been telling them that he must return to the father so that the Advocate could come to them.   As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate the setup event.  He is making your reservation in Heaven and he is preparing that special package that will allow each of us to have faith, to believe in the face of life's many challenges AND to do whatever work the Lord needs us to do.  This is a critical "and".  Faith that refuses to take any part in the Lord's work, isn't Christianity.  It's a salve for one's own fears or guilt, but it isn't what Jesus taught his disciples.  As the Apostle James wrote, Faith without the works of faith is dead. This special package or gift is the Holy Spirit.  

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Today is about the Ascension of Jesus, the end of one era.  The time of the Christ walking among draws to a close.  And now begins a brief period of anticipation before the next era begins.  The disciple prayed in the upper room.  These were days of pregnant anticipation.  They waited and prayed.  They chose Judas' successor.  And they waited and prayed.  They weren't looking for Jesus to show up and tell them anything new.  They'd been told something big was about to happen and they waited and prayed.  

I feel like the resuming of public Masses marks a similar transition between eras.  Certainly not as big and cosmically significant as the transition from the time of Christ walking among us and the time of the Holy Spirit, but for us who are Catholics, this transition might mark a watershed moment for us in our lives.  This time without Mass, without Christ in the Eucharist, has meant something to each of us.  Even though we don't speak in such terms often, the Holy Spirit prompts all spiritual insight and growth.  Therefore, we can ask, what is the Holy Spirit prompting us to make of this time?  But that's a little generic and too easily passed off as apply to "the other guy."  So, what new understand, what deeper love of the Christ, his Body and Blood, or His Church has the Spirit inspired in you?  And what is the Holy Spirit urging you to do with or about that new understanding or love?  The answers to such questions may not have reached a sharp resolution yet.  The Spirit also works in its own time, and at the fullness of time.  In these days between the Ascension of our Lord and the celebration of Pentecost it's good to ponder and pray about such things.   

With all the lives lost and dramatically changed by the covid-19 pandemic, it seems to me the worst tribute we could make to both the dead and the many heroes is that we look on the last two months as an utter waste of time, resources and lives.  A far greater tribute would be that these days lead us to be disciples more closely bound to Christ, which will also make us better human beings and better citizens.  Please take the time to ponder and pray.  Please, be that better tribute.  Be that better disciple of Christ.  

- Fr. Paul Gebhardt