Dear Preachers:

The locations mentioned in the Bible often catch my attention. The writers were not mapmakers or geographers, so when they place a story in a specific location, it’s usually to highlight something important. In today’s Gospel, Luke tells us that Jesus led his disciples to Bethany, where he blessed them and was "taken up to heaven."

Bethany holds particular significance for Luke. It was from Bethany that Jesus began his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Now, having completed all he was sent to do, he ascends into heaven from that same place. While Luke doesn’t mention it directly, John tells us that Bethany was also the home of Martha and Mary, where Jesus was welcomed and loved. It was there that he raised their brother Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus departs from the politically charged and conflict-ridden city of Jerusalem, and goes to the quiet village of Bethany – a place marked by compassion and intimate friendship. He ends his earthly mission not with a grand display of power, but in the company of those who loved him. His Ascension from such an ordinary place reminds us where we, too, can expect to encounter our risen Lord—in the familiar and humble spaces of our own lives. These may seem ordinary, but they are often the very places where we hear his voice and are sent, as the disciples were, to witness to his life, death, and resurrection.

Still, isn’t it a lonely feeling trying to be a Christian in a big, often indifferent – or even hostile – world? Imagine how the disciples must have felt when Jesus left them: alone, unsure, with many questions. How would they manage without his presence, guidance, or powerful works?

But the Gospel passage ends on a hopeful note. Jesus makes a promise before leaving:

"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

At the very moment when the disciples were facing an overwhelming task—witnessing to the ends of the earth – Jesus assures them they will not be alone. He promises the Holy Spirit, who will enable them to fulfill their mission.

Over the past Sundays, we’ve heard of the risen Jesus appearing to his frightened disciples. Now he commissions them to witness to all nations. Yet, even in his absence, they are not abandoned. The Spirit will be with them.

Jesus has given his followers a great responsibility – to continue his ministry without his physical presence. When he was with them, he made the decisions, performed miracles, led the way. Now, as he leaves them, they are entrusted with discerning how to bring his message to an expanding world. I imagine their sense of disorientation: like being sent somewhere completely new – without a GPS. The burden of carrying out his mission now falls on their shoulders. As Luke tells us, Jesus took them to Bethany, blessed them, and was taken up to heaven. I can only imagine the loneliness they felt as they heard his final words:

"You are witnesses of these things." They were to witness to Christ’s suffering and resurrection and to preach forgiveness in his name to all nations.

As the Easter season draws to a close, how many times have we affirmed in our prayers and liturgies: "The Lord is risen!"? Today, the Letter to the Ephesians expresses our Easter hope beautifully:

"May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call…" We have this hope because the Lord is alive.

Each Gospel writer emphasizes something unique. Matthew and Mark highlight the disciples’ mission. Luke focuses on the absence of Jesus, yet shows how the disciples return to Jerusalem full of joy, bearing witness to him. Today we celebrate the Son’s Ascension to heaven and his return to the Father’s right hand. His followers experience his absence – not as if he were dead, but as one still alive. As he promises: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you."

The Spirit will make Jesus present in a world that often values arrogance, selfishness, and power, while ignoring the poor and outcast.

Today’s Scriptures stir in us a longing. Where in your life do you feel a deep need for the Spirit? Name it. Pray over it. Then turn your eyes toward Pentecost—next week—when once again the disciples of the Lord will be filled with his Spirit.

When parting from someone you love, what do you focus on? Their last look? Their hand raised in farewell? A kiss thrown back to you? Luke tells us that Jesus "raised his hands and blessed them." That’s the image his disciples were left with: a blessing. They could no longer touch or speak to him, but they carried his blessing in their hearts – for their sorrows and for the ministry ahead. We carry that same blessing today. We carry his Spirit, his words, and his unfailing love as we face the challenges of living a Christian life in today’s world.

The Ascension challenges us: What are we to do as we wait for Christ’s return? We do believe he will return… don’t we? We do believe that in the meantime, his Holy Spirit breathes new life into us, directs our actions, and sustains us… don’t we?

Have you ever thought about what it means to see with your heart? How is it different than seeing with only your eyes? Can you think of a situation that you saw with your heart? Working for environmental justice begins with seeing with your heart, as do other social justice issues.

Perhaps, one of the most beautiful prose I have ever read on the subject of seeing the environment with your heart comes from Fr. Anthony de Mello, S.J., in his book, The Song of the Bird (Anand, 1982). He writes, "If you really heard a bird sing, if you really saw a tree. . .you would know - beyond words and concepts. What was that you said? That you have heard dozens of birds sing and seen hundreds of trees? Ah, was it the tree you saw or the label? When you look at a tree and see a tree, you have really not seen the tree. When you look at a tree and see a miracle -- then, at last, you have seen a tree! Did your heart ever fill with wordless wonder when you heard the song of a bird?" Seeing with your heart makes all the difference.

Years ago, Rachel Carson wrote a book called, Silent Spring (Readers, 1962). She writes, "It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound." She was ringing an alarm about the overuse of pesticides. She saw with her heart and acted.

What you do or don’t do to preserve the environment, will yield a positive or negative visible result. On this day of observance of Jesus’ ascension, will you just stand there "looking at the sky?" (Acts 1:11) or will you begin an ecological conversion to act so that when Jesus returns, he will find a world that is loved. Here are three initial steps:

NC Catholics Caring for our Common Home invites you this afternoon, June 1, at 3PM, to join in the Gather at the Globe Prayer Service at NC Museum of Natural Sciences Globe.

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director

Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

Jesus said to his disciples:

"And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you,

but stay in the city

until you are clothed with power from on high."

When our world is dark and we feel alone, we want Jesus to keep his word and send us "the promise of my Father." We want that promised One with us in whatever darkness, interior or exterior, we find ourselves.

• Name the darkness in your private world that needs "the promised One."

• Will you pray from now till Pentecost for Jesus to fulfill his promise to you?

POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES

"One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out."
---Pope Francis

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.

Please write to:

----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P.:

St. Albert Priory

3150 Vince Hagan Drive

Irving, Texas 75062-4736

Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.

Or, go to our webpage to make an online donation:

RESOURCES

We have compiled Four CDs for sale:

• Individual CDs for each Liturgical Year, A, B or C.

• One combined CD for "Liturgical Years A, B and C.

If you are a preacher, lead a Lectionary-based scripture group, or are a member of a liturgical team, these CDs will be helpful in your preparation process. Individual worshipers report they also use these reflections as they prepare for Sunday liturgy.

     You can order the CDs by going to our webpage:  https://www.PreacherExchange.com and clicking on the "First Impressions" CD link on the left.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY EMAIL:

1. "HOMILÍAS DOMINICALES" ---These Spanish reflections on the Sunday and daily scriptures are written by Dominican sisters and friars. If you or a friend would like to receive these reflections drop a note to "Fr. John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net>

2. "VOLUME 2" is an opportunity for you to hear from the readers of First Impressions. To subscribe or Send your own reflections: Send them to "Fr. John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net > Your contributions to Volume 2 are welcome.

OUR WEBSITE:

https://www.PreacherExchange.com - Where you will find Preachers Exchange, which includes "First Impressions," "Homilías Dominicales," and "Volume 2" as well as articles, book reviews, daily homilies and other material pertinent to preaching and Scripture reflection.

FOR EMAIL HELP OR TO UNSUBSCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE, OR CHANGE:

Email "Fr. John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net>